Dear friend:

Emily Jordan was five years old when she lost her battle with leukemia.  But before she passed away, she wrote a letter to Ironman race officials asking them to grant her daddy, Bob Jordan, entry to the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.  You see, that was her dad’s dream, and Emily wanted her dad’s dream to come true.

On April 24, 1997, Bob walked into Emily’s hospital room where he was greeted by friends, family, Emily, and Ironman race officials.  Bob read Emily’s letter aloud, on national television, and learned that he had been selected to race the Ironman World Championship.

Four weeks before the race, in 1997, Emily lost her battle with leukemia.  But her dad went on to complete the race, and his story was featured prominently by NBC in that year’s race coverage.  (start video at 46:50)

Since that time, Bob Jordan and his wife, Terry, have gone on to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to research a cure for leukemia and lymphoma.  That’s their new dream: to find a cure.

I met Bob Jordan last year, while completing the marathon portion of the Colorado Ironman.  As a daddy to two little girls, his story made me cry.  Not the kind of tears that you might imagine on an Ironman run course, but the kind that stir your soul to act.  Meeting Bob Jordan that day in Colorado was no coincidence.

Now I share Bob’s dream: to find a cure.

On October 10, 2015, I will compete in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, but to complete the journey I will need your help.  So will Bob.  And so will all of the other children who, like Emily, dream of finding a cure.

The Kona, Ironman is arguably the most difficult one-day endurance sporting event on earth, where athletes swim 2.4 miles in the rough Pacific Ocean, cycle 112 miles through the windy island terrain, and run 26.2 miles through the blistering-hot lava fields.  All of which must be completed in 17 hours.  On October 10, 2015 I will be racing to find a cure – and I will be doing it for Emily.

Leukemia is the single biggest disease killer of children and young adults under the age of twenty.  Although the cause of blood cancers remains unknown, recently developed treatments and steady advances in research bring us closer to a cure every day.  These research advances have been achieved as a result of contributions made by companies, foundations, and individuals just like you. 

Make the Kona Ironman your race, too.  Play a role in a much bigger dream.  I am asking you to consider making a gift to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In-Training program.  The size of your gift does not matter. 

My goal is to raise $150,000 by October 10, 2015.  That is a big goal, and one that can only be achieved with your help.  A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.  And in this case, it takes you. 

I have made it easy.  You can make your 100% tax deductible donation by donating here, securely, online.

By contributing you will play a role in racing for a cure – a big dream.  One that Emily had.  One that Bob has.  And one that we can all share.  Because with your help a cure for all blood cancers is in sight.

If you are interested in a larger corporate gift, please contact me directly at jblack@dalyblack.com.  I am reserving a few spots on my race jersey for the largest donors, who want to see their logo or other graphic of choice cross the finish line in Kona.

Feel free to track this journey on my Facebook page, Backing Black to Kona, and invite others to “like” the page.  Donations can be made through that page as well.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backingblacktokona

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  The Kona World Championship Ironman is no different.  And curing leukemia and lymphoma is no different.  

Help me take a step, big or small, and dare to dream of a cure.

With gratitude,

John Scott Black

(713) 655-1405
jblack@dalyblack.com