Hi my name is Tom McCabe Jr. I grew up in Drexel Hill, PA. I went to Grade school at St. Dorothy's and graduated from O'Hara High school in 2003. I played Ice Hockey and Lacrosse for O'Hara. I have just completed six years in the United States Navy I was one of two Search and Rescue swimmers on my ship. I was an electronics technician for the Navy during my six years of service. I was able to see a lot during that time with two deployments over seas. I am now riding my bike from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean to raise money for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). I really wanted to do this for CHOP because it is my belief that no child should ever be sick but if they are they should have a place to go just for them. I would like you to take this journey with me. I will be leaving from Atlantic City on July 11 2009 and arriving in Santa Monica on August 19, 2009. Over these 40 days I will cycle approximately 3200 miles and make stops in Philadelphia,PA St Louis, MO, Denver, CO and finally Las Vegas, NV, before arriving in Santa Monica.
This web site will allow you to follow me from place to place. I have a day to day itinerary set up and will be posting pictures of my experiences along the way. If you happen to be in one of the places I will be stopping maybe you can help me with some advice on places to stay? Most of my trip I plan on camping if the weather cooperates. Also if you own or know of a bike shop along my route this could help although I will have extra parts with me I don’t know till I get out there what to expect. My main goal is to raise as much money as I can for CHOP and make more people aware of the miracles that take place there each day. The following is just one story that has touched me and why I am doing this for CHOP.
In August 2003, about two weeks after her 6th birthday and just two weeks before she was to begin 1st grade, Grace was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a bone cancer that afflicts about 250 children in the United States each year. Grace had a large tumor in her pelvis that was causing pain in her right leg and hip. Luckily for Grace, she was diagnosed at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which has one of the best pediatric cancer programs in the world. Over the next 10 months, a multidisciplinary team at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia worked tirelessly to help Grace win her battle with childhood cancer. Under the care of talented and dedicated doctors and nurses, Grace endured fourteen rounds of chemotherapy, thirty-two radiation treatments, and numerous surgeries, transfusions and other medical procedures. The chemo and radiation made her sick, weak and tired and caused her hair to fall out, but Grace never lost hope. Child life specialists helped Grace deal with her emotions through creative art therapy, music therapy, and developmentally appropriate play. Full-time teachers also were instrumental in Grace’s recovery and helped her keep up with her school work so she would not miss a grade. Thanks to the family-centered care she received at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Grace was able to cope with the overwhelming challenge of fighting and surviving childhood cancer. PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS
Today, Grace is a childhood cancer survivor! Her cancer is in remission and her prognosis is very good. She is a typical 11 (almost 12) year old girl who likes to play soccer, swim and run around with her sister and friends. She continues to visit The Cancer Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for follow-up care once a year to monitor the potential long-term side effects of her difficult treatment. Grace is one of hundreds of children who have been cured and who now participate in the Cancer Survivorship Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
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