On the Cover
RUNNING INTERFERENCE Written by Britt Steele
Have you ever felt like you were facing something so big, so massive, a battle in which you’re already starting out as the overwhelming underdog, that there was almost zero chance towards defeat or victory? I would bet everything on the answer being “yes.” Especially if you, a friend or relative have been diagnosed with cancer. Life is swarming with surprises, full of devastating defeats in the battles lost and overwhelming examples of overcoming the odds in those that are won. The warriors we must become to win, regardless of the size of the feat we face, is what defines us and the champion we each have within. Speaking of surprises, never could I have imagined what was anticipated to be a casual introduction to Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally) over coffee a few weeks ago, would result in having such a deep affect on me and my team, ultimately changing the course of this March/April issue in such a sudden, yet exciting, manner. While I ordered my usual cappuccino, it remained untouched during the almost three hours I shared with Elaine Kay, Director of Rally Nashville and Shelley Logan, Chair of Rally Nashville PR as I was taken on an emotional and captivating tour of their personal stories, all while being simultaneously introduced to the ins and outs of the Rally Foundation, an organization that extends countrywide with a sole focus on childhood cancer research. Both ladies have been personally touched by childhood cancer after Elaine’s 11-year-old son astonishingly became the 27th person in world history to be diagnosed with PNET Ewing’s Sarcoma and the battle with an aggressive cancer that causes tumors to double in size every 24 hours, Burkitt Lymphoma, braved by Shelley’s son. I sat in awe of not just their stories, but their drive, Rally’s mission and how many families Rally has given unmatched support to since inception in 2005. However, I was more stunned by all that I didn’t know. In modern days, statistics are so easy to come by, even easier to throw around. But if one stops for a second to remember that any of these shocking and saddening numbers actually represents a living, breathing, playful child who is currently engaged in an unsolicited battle with a beast far bigger than those they see on their cartoons, those numbers begin to carry a much heavier weight. When learning that 46 children are diagnosed with cancer every school day, my heart sunk when picking my daughter up from school later that afternoon, as it hit me like a ton of bricks how fortunate I was to be able to pick her up and continue on with our nightly routine when 46 families just had their worlds turned upside down. During our time together, as I listened to Elaine list off all the incredible souls in Nashville that support Rally and participate with such pride, I threw out what I thought to be an extremely long-shot idea of how great it would be to get a Rally kid with one of the several, very active Tennessee Titans players. Offensive tackle and Rally Angel Taylor Lewan was the perfect fit for our cover, but we never thought it could come to fruition for various reasons. Scheduling for Lewan’s very busy calendar and health concerns for the child to accompany him.
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