Son to run on behalf of his father, and the Leukemia Society

TOWN CRIER- WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2008

By MIKE GIANNATTASIO
Sports Correspondent

Erik Engdahl, a former Wilmington resident will be taking over in his dad’s role in fundraising for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training in honor of people running the PF Chang Rock and Roll Marathon to be held on January 18, 2009.

His father, Wilmington resident John Engdahl, a leukemia survivor, first got involved in The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by raising money for the Team in Training program in 1993, a year after his own successful battle with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.

“Turning 50 might be traumatic for some people,” said Engdahl on his fundraising web-site. “But John Engdahl of Wilmington decided to use this milestone to try something new and different, like running the Boston Marathon.”

He went on to run in the Boston Marathon eight times, raising between $80,000 to $100,000 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society after battling cancer.

“John was also helped by people he didn't know and would never meet,” quoted Engdahl on his fundraising page. “Because the chemo compromised his immune system and depleted his platelets, John received "a lot of blood. The transfusions kept him going until Christmas, when he received an autologous bone marrow transplant.

“The chemotherapy and transplant were successful. John emerged from the hospital on January 2, 1992 and has been cancer-free ever since.”

John was later nominated by the Olympic Committee in 1996 to carry the Olympic torch in Boston for the formally known Games of the XXV1 in Atlanta Georgia. He did just that when it came to came to the city of Boston .

Next came his recognition by the Boston Celtics for “Hero among Us,” an initiative started in 1997 by the Boston Celtics. It honors individuals who have made an overwhelming impact on the lives of others.

Engdahl asks anyone to join him in honoring his father and other individuals affected by these terrible diseases.

“We need your support to cross the ultimate finish line – a cure,” said Engdahl on his fundraising page. “If possible, please send your 100% tax-deductible donation by December 5th so I can monitor my fundraising efforts. I will, however, continue to accept donations until the day of the race. Thank you so much for your support and generosity.”

To donate, please visit John‘s web site at ://pages.teamintraining.org/dm/pfchangs09/eengdahl.