‘CLIMB FOR CASPER’
‘CFC’
My 3 year old nephew, Casper Parsons, was diagnosed with Leukemia on February 23, 2010. He has been receiving treatment, going in and out of the hospital ever since. I don’t think I will ever be able to understand what Casper, my brother Spencer, his wife Maria, and my little 1 ½ year old niece Amelie, have gone through over these past 8 months. I can’t imagine the challenges they’ve faced and the impact this has had on their lives. I do know that Casper is a tough little man, full of life, and Maria and Spencer are both strong, wonderful parents. The good news is that all indicators show that Casper is going to beat this and recover. The bad news is the strain this has put on my brother’s family, the incredibly challenging medical treatments Casper has endured, and the excessive costs of the medical treatments that Maria and Spencer are dealing with.
Over these past 8 months I have often struggled to determine what I can do to help and have tried to comprehend how challenging this has been for my brother and his family.
To help out, I decided to come up with a way that I could raise some money for the Casper A. Parsons Leukemia Fund which is an Oregon non-profit corporation my brother and his wife created to assist with Casper's medical expenses. I wanted to do something that represented how much I cared about Casper and also something challenging, considering all of the challenges Casper has faced.
About 4 years ago my father-in-law Larry Lee (aka Lavernius) got me into road bike riding. Ever since, I have been hooked as it is an incredible outlet for stress and I tend to get a bit stressed out from time to time. What I decided to do is commit to ride my bike to the top of the dormant volcano on Maui called Mt. Haleakula. This has been referred to as the “longest, steepest, paved road on earth.” I figured if Casper can fight and struggle and beat cancer at the age of 2 ½, I can certainly struggle as well and get my butt to the top of this volcano on my bike.
The route I am doing climbs 10,000 feet over 42 miles and reaches gradients up to 18%. I am going to start outside the town of Pa'ia near Baldwin Beach. I know I will be able to make it because I am doing it for Casper. Casper is going to beat this cancer and I am going to get to the top of this volcano.
What I would like to ask from all of you who receive this is that you make a donation to the Casper A. Parsons Leukemia Fund. Any amount, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated by myself and my brother’s family.
Please visit Casper’s blog at: http://mightycappuccino.blogspot.com/
At this site you will see a history of the steps Casper has gone through and a link to the donation site for Casper’s fund. Please type in ‘Climb for Casper’ or CFC in the note section if and when you donate.
Thanks in advance and please visit my website again in early October to see more photos and find documentation of my successful completion of the ride.
Louis Everett Parsons
