tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776374780613340304.post-68436505987881190002008-06-02T11:04:00.000-07:002008-06-02T11:38:54.359-07:00<div face="arial" style="text-align: left;"><pre style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia">I got this email from Emma McCormack, wife of our reigning Ironman world champ,<br />Chris McCormack. Given that Chris lost his mother, Theresa, to breast cancer in<br />1999, he has a true connection to making the fight against cancer known.<br /><br />It took on a sudden urgency when his friend Dave Baigent, also a triathlete,<br />was diagnosed with cancer. So, he's getting word out to help out Dave and<br />Allana in this fight.<br /><br />"Chris and I are trying to raise money for a very very special couple, Dave<br />and Allana they are very close Friends of ours and are very wellknown in the<br />tri and firefighter world.<br /><br />Dave got the worst news ever that he has cancer. It is a very hard time<br />for them as anyone. We would like to help them out anyway we can. Allana<br />has had to cut back on<br />work to be there for Dave, as his treament is getting longer and more<br />intense due to the type of cancer he has chemo daily. He soon will<br />need to have radiation to the brain. We have put a fund together for<br />them to raise money to help them get though this time. If we can raise<br />$5000 the Talbert Family Foundation will match it for us. We are in the<br />process of getting a ABN for Australian tax deductions so it would be a<br />gift at the moment. If you are in the USA it is all set up for tax<br />deductions.<br /><br />For those who don't know Dave, he is often referred to as the<br />"Oldest Teenager in the job!" This is due to his active<br />involvement in any activity causing sweat, pain and requiring extreme<br />endurance such as Ironman triathlons, 24 hour relays etc. Many will also<br />be aware of the time Dave gives to anyone wishing to mend or tune their<br />pushy."<br /><br />Here's Macca and Emma's plea for help. Given that he is racing Ironman 70.3 UK<br />to donate the prize winnings to Dave, you can be he will be racing his ass off.<br />I don't care of Faris and Simon Whitfield showed up; I wouldn't be against Chris.<br /><br />If you can help, please do so.<br /><br /></pre><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;">***<br /></div><pre style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Hi everyone,<br /><br />Many of you know Dave Baigent and many of you do not. If you are an Australian<br />triathlete you would know Dave from all the races around the country with his<br />smiling face, caring heart and absolute love of this sport and the people in it.<br />He is one of the souls of the earth and a very close friend of mine. Dave was<br />recently diagnosed with a Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma type T-cell cancer which is very<br />aggressive. The main tumor is behind his heart but the cancer has spread rapidly<br />into other parts of his body including his spine. The treatment required was<br />immediate and heavy and Dave has been hospitalised for most of the past 13 weeks<br />fighting this cancer. Cancer has forced Dave to have to leave his job as a fireman<br />which has put huge financial stress on his family. Dave a servied as Firefighter<br />for over 20 years he has also been there for the public.<br /><br />Dave is an absolute fighter and is determined to beat this crippling disease. I<br />lost my mother to cancer in 1999 and have been a strong supporter of fighting this<br />disease ever since. In this time I was able to link up with the Talbert Foundation<br />in the Unites States. They are a non for profit organization who help families<br />raise money in this time of need and take off the financial burden that can cripple<br />them when a member of the family is struck by this disease. For the first time ever<br />they have been able to offer their organization to assist someone out of the USA.<br />I cannot thank Julie and Lloyd Talbert enough for their help here.<br /><br />Anyway guys and girls, <span style="font-style: italic;">please</span> help us all raise money for Dave and Allana. The<br />Talbert foundation will match dollar for dollar the first $5,000 we raise<br />so if you make a $10 donation that is really $20 and every single cent helps.<br />Our aim is to raise enough money so than Allana and Dave can focus only on fighting this<br />disease and not worry about anything else at this point in their lives. Everything raised goes<br />directly to Dave and Allana so please find it in your hearts to go past this website we have<br />set up for Dave and make a donation. I will be racing the UK Ironman 70.3 race for Dave and<br />donating my entire prize purse to Dave and Allana. I hope you all can help us in some way<br />make a huge impact on this family. They are just incredible and need our help now. For<br />people in the USA, this is tax deductable. For Australian residents, we are waiting to get<br />this set up should be done really soon. So it would have to be a gift for now.<br /><br />You can make your donations through this foundation site we have set up.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.talbertfamilyfoundation.org/pages/DaveBaigent.html" target="_blank">http://www.talbertfamilyfoundation.org/pages/DaveBaigent.html</a><br /><br />If you have any questions please email emma5458@gmail.com or the foundation. Also<br />if anyone can donate any services to auction, that would be fantastic.<br /><br />Thanks everyone,<br /><br />Macca and Emma<br /><br /></pre><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">***</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Best of luck in the fundraising, but most importantly, best of luck to Dave in his fight</span>.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><pre><br /></pre></div>Jay Prasuhnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05585350218995634202noreply@blogger.com