Nuvation HEADLINES 
|
New IP
|
| » |
ATA / UDMA-33 Core for Xilinx Spartan 3 |
| » |
GEOS 2+2 for Altera Cyclone |
| » |
PCI-Express Coming Soon |
| » |
Low-Power laser diode controller board |
|
|
New Affiliations
|
| » |
Altera High Speed I/O Design Center |
| » |
Intel PCI Express Developers Network |
| » |
Intel PCA Developers Network |
|
|
|  |
|
|
2004: The Hike that Challenged
|
Over 150 hikers gathered on Sunday, September 19, 2004 in honor of Hike for a Cure, a fundraiser devoted to finding a cure for the rare disease of Histiocytosis. There were so many hikers that the start times had to be staggered to avoid overcrowding trails. I had the honor of leading one of the four groups this year. I also had the honor of carrying a traditional watermelon to the top of Half Dome. Though my knees weren't in the best mood, it was actually the best tasting watermelon I'd ever had.
|
  This year, the hike presented a tough challenge to its contenders. The weather was not as balmy as previous years. The brunt of a snowstorm hit just as the last of our hikers' summit ended. Getting down was a major challenge as the dome and the cables were covered with ice. The group I led down was tired from gripping the slippery cables with every ounce of strength we had. There had been a helicopter rescue earlier in the day, fortunately not in our group, for an injury that brought home the reality that the hike was not a Disneyland ride. Another person was airlifted for hypothermia. HFAC had one hiker turn up missing, a strong woman in her 60's that lost the trail and didn't check in that evening. She made it through a snowy night curled up in her rain poncho under an overhanging rock. We were all very worried, but thankfully, she was found the next morning and returned home safely. Suffice to say, the hike this year, was an extremely challenging experience.
|
 When Anton was only 3 months old, he was diagnosed with an extraordinarily rare but virulent blood disease called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. Overactive white blood cells were attacking Anton's own body, the result of a hypersensitive immune system. Only through months of chemotherapy could Anton's body be coaxed into a state of balance. Since then, Anton has been in remission, growing, running, laughing and playing just like any other boy- but his parents still keep a close eye.
|
"Histiocytosis affects roughly 1 in 200,000 children born each year in the United States. Histiocytosis is so rare that there is little research into its cause and treatment and is often referred to as an "orphan disease", meaning it strikes too few people to generate government-supported research."
Most of the funding for research into Anton's disease comes from events like "Hike for a Cure", a point that has inspired many to take up the flag. For the third year in a row, Nuvation and its employees have taken this event to be their own- bringing new and inspiring stories to this years hike.
|
 In completing the hike, I realized that the challenge gave me a small sense of what the children with Histiocytosis and their families go through, even when bad weather isn't in the same league. One woman carried a photo of her niece, a 6-month-old girl in New Mexico that has been undergoing chemotherapy since birth. Some of the families with us had lost children. Patrick celebrated his birthday with his family and the hikers. And Anton, son of Ron & Colleen McPeek, who was the original inspiration behind Hike for a Cure, made it to the cables at Half Dome this year and would have summited had the weather cooperated. Anton is five years old now, is in remission, and his dad carries him most of the way up and back. The pure drive and determination required for this hike are the same qualities that Ron and Colleen McPeek exhibit to lead the cause every year.
|
What was very evident at the hike was the appreciation and support provided by all the participating families. The Histiocytosis Association of America (HAA) does not receive much outside funding, so the money raised in this event will truly make a difference. Thank you all for your awareness and for those who were able to help contribute. On behalf of the HAA, the families, and myself: Thank You!
To join the hike or become a sponsor, you may contact anyone at Nuvation or the Hike For A Cure organizers, Ron and Colleen McPeek, at info@hikeforacure.com.
|
Customer service
· To subscribe yourself or a friend, please click
here.
· Questions? Comments?
Send us your feedback.
|
|
 |
