Dave Fones

Did you know that approximately 54,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with oral cancer, for the first time, this year and that one person will die from it EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY, 24/7/365.

.My goal in participating in the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA) Move-A-Thon is to make as many people as possible aware of those facts and to provide as many people as I can with the motivation to be as active as they possibly can be. I also hope I will be motivated to move more than I usually do and to ideally persuade you to make a contribution so we can make progress in our war against this horrific disease.

Before I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer called Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma or UPS in 2020, I suffered four strokes in 2015 and had to go to physical therapy to learn how to get out of bed by myself. I started keeping track of how far I’ve travelled July 16th, 2016; at least five miles a day in the high school fieldhouse (to improve my balance). I also walk two great Danes as often as I can and lift weights for two hours a week.

I had two cancer surgeries, which removed a total of 66 lymph nodes, of course 25 sessions of radiation therapy and Covid in 2021. The only days I missed my routine were the Thursday of my BIG surgery, the following three day weekend and of course my Covid time. By the end of April, I will have walked jogged and run six thousand miles since my diagnosis and the good Lord willing I will pass 14,000 miles, since my fourth stroke, before I turn 75 in August. My specialists say my level of activity explains why I’ve never experienced any side effects and have tolerated everything so well (I’ve now been cancer free for 18 months).

My advice? All I can suggest is do as I did. Start slow; walk to the end of the driveway and back every day for a week, then to your neighbor’s driveway for a week, then to their neighbor’s for a week, to the end of the block, then around the block. Before you know it, you’ll be walking like John Travolta to “Stayin’ Alive” in “Saturday Night Fever.” Eventually, you may work up the nerve to jog, but mostly walk; then to run, while mostly walking. However you decide to move, I pray that it will lead you to the longer, healthier life you and your loved ones desire for you.

Your contribution, to this fundraiser, will assist in furthering HNCA’s mission to improve prevention, detection, treatment, and rehabilitation of oral, head, and neck cancer through public awareness, research, advocacy, and survivorship. This is a very important mission for me as I have seen first hand the unselfish sharing of survivors, caretakers and families working to make life better for all of us. I hope you will pray for these amazing people and for the success of this endeavor.

I ask that you consider challenging me to move (approximately $1.50 for every penny per mile pledged, more if I’m highly motivated) and/or a gift to assist in furthering the HNCA mission by clicking on the donate button near the upper right hand corner of this page.

Even better, join my team, "Runnin' Down A Dream." You don't need to raise money or contribute; just commit to being more active for one month and then try to keep it up. Please remember every dollar counts and gets us closer to our goal as we run down our dream of defeating cancer. Thank you very much.

My personal goal is to walk, jog and run between 150 and 200 miles in April. I will be posting screen shots of my movements as recorded by my phone here.

Now, LET'S GET MOVING (not necessarily like Jagger).

Dave