Hello Team Declan! 
We are so happy to have each of you joining us this year, some for the first time and many who have been with us from the beginning. THANK YOU for all that you do to support our family and support this important cause.

We are participating in the End Childhood Cancer Walk/Run and raising money to help Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation move one step closer to finding cures for all children with cancer! You can join us by running or walking as part of Team Declan, or by making a donation right to this page. The money you donate will pay for research to find better treatments and cures for childhood cancer. 

Why do we Run/Walk? When Declan was just three and a half years old, he began experiencing headaches and vomiting. For more than two weeks, we were unsuccessful in finding the cause, and his symptoms continued to get worse. On February 6, 2011, Super Bowl Sunday, we took Declan to A.I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. A CT scan showed that three of the four ventricles in Declan's brain were filled with spinal fluid. This is called Hydrocephalus. The CT scan was followed by an MRI of Declan's brain and spine, which showed that his central nervous system was covered in 'bright spots.' 

After the first two of three brain surgeries needed to resolve the Hydrocephalus, and several 'second opinions' as to the nature of the tiny tumor that was taken from his brain and biopsied, we learned on Valentine's Day that year that Declan had a very rare form of childhood cancer. His diagnosis: Primary CNS Rhabdomyosarcoma. 

Declan gave it all he had, and fought that 'Stupid Cancer!' with more grace and fierce bravery than we could ever have imagined. When talking about how even heroes have bad days, Declan's response was "Not me." And it's true: he lived each day of his four years, eight months, and eight days. Lived them as fiercely as any child should. Declan DOMINATED his life. 

One of Declan's favorite songs was 'Crazy Train' by Ozzy Osborne. There was something about that song that just resonated with him. He loved to hear it. It is loud, it is rock and roll. And, on the day we brought Declan home on Hospice Care, he asked us to play it, and play it, and play it again, for the entire 40 minute ride home from the hospital. It was only after Declan returned to heaven that we heard words in the song we hadn't heard before: "I'm living with something, that just isn't fair." 

So when you are tempted to think that you can't do a 5k run or walk, remember Declan's no bad days. Hear Ozzy's voice screaming in your ear. Get on that crazy train and do it for Declan, for all these kids, who are living with something that just isn't fair!

Thank you for joining us in this fight. We couldn't do it without each of you.
With gratitude,
Megan & Bill
Declan's, Brendan's, and Tommy's Mom and Dad