Oct 15, 2009 4:46 pm US/Mountain
Little Girl's Cancer Inspires Runners, Donations
Written for the Web by CBS4 Special Projects Producer Libby Smith
At the Denver Marathon on Sunday, October 18th, one team of runners is hoping to raise awareness of childhood cancers. The Miles for Tuesday team is running to honor a little girl who lost a big battle against cancer.
Friends and family will tell you that Tuesday Whitt was a beautiful little girl.
"She had a twin sister and two older brothers so she was born tough," said Mike Whitt, Tuesday's grandfather.
She got tougher when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a common cancer in children. Tuesday underwent 7 months of chemotherapy and radiation. She lost her battle with cancer in January. Tuesday was two-years-old.
"I think she was an inspiration to everyone who met her," Whitt told CBS4.
Now Tuesday is inspiring her grandfather and others on a new journey. They're running in the Denver Marathon.
"The goal is for everyone to collectively to do something wonderful," said Bill Mell, team captain.
The Miles for Tuesday team is 33 members strong and hopes to raise $15,000 for the Children's Hospital Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
"People's generosity has just really come out through this," Mell added.
Mell hopes that the inspiration of a little girl can make a big difference in the fight against childhood cancers.
"If you're going to run 26 miles you might as well do something for the better and for the community," Mell said.
Tuesday's grandfather will be running the full marathon – his first in 16 years.
"This event is a difficult physical challenge and it brings out an awareness of what it's like for those people being treated for cancer," Whitt said.
Additional Resources
The Denver Marathon, Half-Marathon, and Relay is Sunday, Oct. 18. The race starts at 7a.m. from Civic Center Park. The course winds through downtown Denver and through three of the city's parks,so there will be rolling street closures.
If you would like to join the Miles for Tuesday team, you can go www.milesfortuesday.com or contact Bill Mell at 303-589-0511 or wjmell@q.com.
