26 miles of giving
Ryan Parnell - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 10/14/02 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
Bound to metal braces on her lower legs, 3-year-old Amber Fink has two UI students running the extra mile for her. Twenty-six point two miles, to be exact.
Senior Matt Monson and junior Martin Biderman will run the Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 8 in Hawaii to raise money for Amber and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Biderman said he was looking for a good cause to run for, and the society paired him with the young northeastern Iowa girl.
The marathon helps to raise money and promote awareness for blood-related cancers, the No. 1 disease killer of U.S. children.
Fink, who lives in Cultier, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia when she was 8 months old. Initially, treatments went well, but after a three-month struggle, she needed a bone-marrow transplant.
"It's really a great opportunity to do our part," Biderman said. "It doesn't take much effort to make a difference, and we're just trying to help."
At the age of 11 months, Fink underwent her first transplant, which used marrow donated by her older sister, Ashley, now 12. One year later, she developed graft-versus-host disease, in which the body recognizes the marrow as foreign and rejects it. She now takes immune-suppressants to combat her illness.
"She goes to treatments at the University Hospital for 10 hours on Mondays," said Kelly Fink, Amber's mother. "The rest of the time she goes to preschool and plays like any other little girl."
Monson and Biderman are aiming to raise $6,400 through the Team In Training program run by the Leukemia Society.
"The money will be used for financial aid dispersed to families in need," said Carol Tebockhorst, the campaign manager for the Iowa Chapter. "They can receive up to $500 a year for travel, medicine, phone cards, and whatever they need to help out."
While Biderman and Monson are raising funds for Amber, they also need to raise enough money to pay their expenses for the trip.
"We get … hotel [discounts] from Team In Training, so that helps," Biderman said. "We are both on the rugby team, and all the guys have been supportive in donating and helping us raise money." Biderman says the Sports Column has also helped.
Together, they have raised $1,500 thus far, but with many donations expected this week, they hope to surpass their goal.
"If we can raise enough money, we want to be able to fly Amber and her mother to Hawaii to watch the event," said Monson. "We've exchanged letters but never have actually met her in person."
Fink said that although her daughter is affected by this disease, she plays and acts just like other children.
"She is very outgoing and happy all the time," Fink said. "She is the youngest in her preschool class, yet she seems to be the leader of the group."
Standing 3 feet tall, with light brown curly hair, Amber says some of her favorite things are coloring, reading the "Three Little Pigs," and playing "Hospital" with the family. Amber likes to be the doctor.
E-mail DI reporter Ryan Parnell at:
ryan-parnell@uiowa.edu
Senior Matt Monson and junior Martin Biderman will run the Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 8 in Hawaii to raise money for Amber and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Biderman said he was looking for a good cause to run for, and the society paired him with the young northeastern Iowa girl.
The marathon helps to raise money and promote awareness for blood-related cancers, the No. 1 disease killer of U.S. children.
Fink, who lives in Cultier, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia when she was 8 months old. Initially, treatments went well, but after a three-month struggle, she needed a bone-marrow transplant.
"It's really a great opportunity to do our part," Biderman said. "It doesn't take much effort to make a difference, and we're just trying to help."
At the age of 11 months, Fink underwent her first transplant, which used marrow donated by her older sister, Ashley, now 12. One year later, she developed graft-versus-host disease, in which the body recognizes the marrow as foreign and rejects it. She now takes immune-suppressants to combat her illness.
"She goes to treatments at the University Hospital for 10 hours on Mondays," said Kelly Fink, Amber's mother. "The rest of the time she goes to preschool and plays like any other little girl."
Monson and Biderman are aiming to raise $6,400 through the Team In Training program run by the Leukemia Society.
"The money will be used for financial aid dispersed to families in need," said Carol Tebockhorst, the campaign manager for the Iowa Chapter. "They can receive up to $500 a year for travel, medicine, phone cards, and whatever they need to help out."
While Biderman and Monson are raising funds for Amber, they also need to raise enough money to pay their expenses for the trip.
"We get … hotel [discounts] from Team In Training, so that helps," Biderman said. "We are both on the rugby team, and all the guys have been supportive in donating and helping us raise money." Biderman says the Sports Column has also helped.
Together, they have raised $1,500 thus far, but with many donations expected this week, they hope to surpass their goal.
"If we can raise enough money, we want to be able to fly Amber and her mother to Hawaii to watch the event," said Monson. "We've exchanged letters but never have actually met her in person."
Fink said that although her daughter is affected by this disease, she plays and acts just like other children.
"She is very outgoing and happy all the time," Fink said. "She is the youngest in her preschool class, yet she seems to be the leader of the group."
Standing 3 feet tall, with light brown curly hair, Amber says some of her favorite things are coloring, reading the "Three Little Pigs," and playing "Hospital" with the family. Amber likes to be the doctor.
E-mail DI reporter Ryan Parnell at:
ryan-parnell@uiowa.edu
