Announcement in Wheeling's Temple Shalom newsletter - HaKol

Here's the text of the announcement published to Wheeling's Temple Shalom newsletter - HaKol. Thank you to the board and members of Temple Shalom for your support!

American Cancer Society Charity Runner Page

I posted my personal page on the American Cancer Society's Charity Runner site at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/philrosenberg . It's also where interested donors can help support my ACS fundraising efforts. Thanks for your generosity to help beat cancer!

I’m an American Cancer Society Charity Runner athlete!

My Father, Al Rosenberg is a two-time lung cancer survivor. I've learned that the survival rate of lung cancer is just 10%, so surviving twice shows incredible fight, spirit, and will to live. I decided to compete in the Chicago Triathlon to honor his personal fight against cancer, and raise donations for American Cancer Society, the charity who's research helped him beat cancer - twice.

I started this journey as a 48 year old, overweight hack, twice a week, 1.5 mile jogger and recreational cyclist. I hadn't swum a lap since high school. The Chicago Triathlon is the world's largest triathlon event, featuring a mile swim in Lake Michigan, a 26.2 mile bike race on Lake Shore Drive, and a 6.3 mile run along Chicago's lakefront. I'll be racing with 10,000 of my closest friends, many of them kicking me in the face as they jockey for swim positions.

Sounds like fun, huh? If Al has enough fight in him to beat cancer twice, I've got enough fight in me to endure this distance.

The race is August 30th. If it's like most Chicago August days, it'll be hot.

For me, participating in this race is a way to prove to myself that with the right amount of planning and effort, I can make a difficult goal achievable. At first, this was strictly a personal goal, which alone can carry many athletes long distances. But now, I’ve also dedicated my training and race efforts to support the American Cancer Society. Fighting cancer will make every mile more meaningful.

Together, we are making a difference.

Like endurance race aspirations, the American Cancer Society is also attacking difficult goals, including preventing cancer and diminishing suffering from the disease. Like me, the Society is putting in a great deal of effort to make these difficult goals possible and to save more lives. I am going to meet my goal of finishing this race to help them meet their goal to end cancer.

Please support me.

In addition to the finishing the race, I am striving to raise money in support of the American Cancer Society. I know that many of you already give to several organizations, maybe even the fight against cancer, so please know that any contribution would be greatly appreciated. Every dollar truly makes a difference. Donating online is easy, and you can donate now. Please help me honor Al Rosenberg and others who have been touched by cancer, and to bring hope to those currently facing the disease.

If you'd like to know more about me personally or professionally, see my profile on Linkedin (www.linkedin.com/in/philrosenberg) and Facebook (http://profile.to/philrosenberg/).

I'm running because my father can still walk! Help me help American Cancer Society BEAT CANCER!

OK...Here we go!

Today, I made the commitment, on my 48th birthday.

I’m going to complete the Chicago Triathlon, the world’s largest triathlon as a charity athlete. I’m training as a charity athlete to honor my Dad, Al Rosenberg, a TWO-TIME lung cancer survivor. While this is a huge commitment for me, my effort pales in comparison to Al’s heroism, beating one of the worst cancers with the lowest odds of survival, not once, but twice.

Dad survived a second lung cancer surgery in March, having a second lobe of his lung removed , from a stage 1B tumor. It was an amazing success with no metastasis - this meant no chemo, just scans every 3 months to make sure nothing else shows up. Lung cancer has just a 10% survival rate, because it spreads so quickly, especially to the Lymph nodes. I don’t know that there are even odds published on beating lung cancer twice. I call him Steve Austin, the $6M man, because he’s been rebuilt so many times (he’s also had 3 vascular surgeries).

I’ve been a volunteer for the Chicago chapter of the American Cancer Society (ACS) for a couple of years, but I want to step up my support, raising donations for ACS though triathlon participation. I’ll use my lungs to help beat the disease that ruins thousands of lungs annually.

I’m a former competitive 10K runner, but that was back in my 20’s - back when I had knees. Today, I run a mile or two at a slow pace for general fitness, have ridden some mid range bike events, and I’m a little overweight. I haven’t swum a lap since I was a kid in camp. My girlfriend Beth was the inspiration, as she completed her first marathon last year at age 43.

My biggest fear is swimming a mile of Chicago’s Monroe Harbor, with thousands of experienced swimmers kicking me in the face. I hope I don’t drown. I won’t even wade in the water off Chicago’s beaches because the water is so cold and ankle numbing.

To prepare, I’ve signed up for Triathlon training with Chicago Endurance Sports, who assure me I won’t drown.

I’m using this blog to update friends and family on my progress, and to raise awareness of Lung Cancer and ACS, and to raise donations to help ACS reduce cancer incidence by 25%, and reduce cancer mortality by 50% by 2015.

Thanks for following my journey.