Robert Halfmann lived a happy life.
Robert, a would-be 28-year-old guidance counselor, died on Dec. 28, 2000 of cancer. Surviving Hodgkin's Lymphoma was not enough, as Myelodysplastic syndrome and Ewing's Sarcoma took over his body, abruptly ending his life just as his future was beginning.
Before he passed away, Robert was lucky enough to meet one of his heroes, then-center for the Pittsburgh Penguins Mario Lemieux. During their meet and greet, the NHL star took pictures, signed autographs and just gave him the emotional support that was to be expected.
In the final months of his life, the Penguins organization even sent Robert a brand new jersey that was not released to the public free of charge, making yet another dream come true for someone whose life was cut short by cancer.
Since December 1998, the National Hockey League and the NHL Players' Association founded "Hockey Fights Cancer," a program that is meant to provide awareness of cancer and provide funds to cancer research institutions, children's hospitals, player charities and cancer organizations. The league has already raised $10 million for general research.
Can anyone else get behind this fight?
Since 1997, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have teamed up with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to raise money for prostate cancer research, raising over $28 million for the worthy cause.
This month, the National Football League is pushing for breast cancer awareness in each of its 32 teams. During the month, each team has earned tens of thousands of dollars in order to find a cure.
In 2006, the National Basketball Association also teamed up to battle prostate cancer, helping to fight the most common non-skin form of cancer in the U.S. Their goal is to provide nearly $100 thousand per team in earned donations.
It nearly brings tears to my eyes to see every league get something right for once.
Fans behind each of these great organizations need to get behind them even more. Whether it is a player on the ice, the guy who has season tickets next to you or a complete stranger, someone in everyone's life is slowly dying of cancer.
For some people, cancer might have taken away the life of their mother, their brother or their uncle. Others might have to slowly watch as the child that they love leaves this world far before they do.
There are over 200 types of cancer that can affect the human body, which puts 200 different types of killers on the streets. Whether its Hodgkin's, leukemia, lung cancer or brain cancer, there are killers out there that can get past the locks on your doors and take away someone that you love.
I don't care if you buy a wristband, put a quarter in a donation cup or even send $500 in an unmarked envelope to the American Cancer Society; we all need to do our part. We need to save our mothers, our children, our brothers and our friends.
We need to save the human race.
If you see someone collecting money to stop cancer, take a hit and give him or her a couple bucks. You could be saving the life of someone you love. Not eating McDonald's for one day might be a bummer for you, but it will be a blessing for someone whose life you could give back to them.
At the end of the day, cancer is a disease that tears apart families across the world every second. Because of its severity, it gives people like you and me the chance to play the part of God, giving life to one person and taking life from another.
Give people like Robert a chance to live.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
