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Show Volume V, Issue XI THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 3 March 15, 2002 Letters to the Editor toxins have a goal of zero intake, and this can’t be swapped casually for a license to dump chemicals until we reach the panic level. Any person who has intentionally blurred that distinction is not trustworthy with my rights, safety, or the public water supply. Rachael Sweeten, Ogden Ogden Canyon Resident Trains to Raise Funds I have decided to try something I have never dreamed of doing. I have joined “Team in Training” with the Leukemia & Lymphoma society. TNT makes a difference by training runners, walkers and bicyclists for marathons and century rides around the world. In return, these dedicated athletes raise money for the Society’s fight against disease of the blood forming tissues— leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and Hodgkin’s disease. I, along with my teammates, will cycle a 100 mile bike race at Lake Tahoe on June 2. It is estimated that leukemia and its related cancers of lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma strike some 107,900 Americans each year, and kill 60,500. Did you know: Every week, there are 2,100 new cases of leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma diagnosed in this country Every week, approximately 1,100 Americans die of these diseases Leukemia is the number one disease killer of children between the ages of 1 & 14 Ten times as many adults as children are stricken with leukemia That’s the bad news. The good news is that research is working. Twenty-five years ago, only 4% of children diagnosed with leukemia survived. Today, 81% of children with leukemia, and 93% of those with Hodgkin’s disease will survive to enjoy the kind of health that we take for granted. I will be riding in memory of my grandmother Zalia Louise Virgin Brown. After being diagnosed with leukemia in 1964, she shortly thereafter, with basically no chance of survival, passed away. Her brave and painful battle can be spared by many through continued research. I am asking for your help. I promise to do all the pedaling, or if the hill’s too big, I’ll push! In return, I ask you to support my financial commitment. My personal fund raising challenge is to raise $3,000. Please make your 100% tax-deductible donation payable to “The Leukemia and Lymphoma society,” and mail to: Belinda Rounkles 750 Ogden Canyon Ogden, Utah 84401 Help me celebrate health. Help me celebrate life. Together we can make a difference. Belinda Rounkles, Ogden Canyon Our Family’s 2002 Olympic Adventures Having the Olympics right here in our community and state was more thrilling than we had even anticipated. I have to give a lot of the credit to our daughter Chelcy’s first grade teacher Mrs. Anderson and Valley Elementary. They really educated the students, and talked a lot about the Olympics. She would come home so excited from school each day, learning about someone or something new about the upcoming events. She’d come home and tell her little sister Emily all about it, and their eyes would light up with excitement. The excitement even rubbed off on me! The two of them decided their favorite athlete was Picabo Street. The school also held a fantastic Olympic program over at Snowcrest. The kids sang the neatest songs, and carried Olympic torches and flags from all over the world. The Ogden Valley Library also held an Olympic Barbecue/program that was very fun and educational for both parents and children. We all were able to meet an Official Olympic torchbearer. She let the children touch the torch, and she spoke about some of the history of the torch and the Olympics. I must say, after watching these programs, and the opening ceremony on television, it was beginning to spark up more and more excitement, and interest in us all! Ogden City held a free event. There was a Huey Lewis concert, free rides all day, Olympic pin trading, and other activities. After all this excitement, it was in my blood! I broke down and decided to see if there were still Olympic event tickets, and luckily there were! What an experience! We were able to go watch the Women’s Combined Downhill/Slalom race, right here at Snowbasin resort. It was quite the experience. The weather and the seats were great. The Olympic mascots powder and Copper were even having fun with one another—wrestling and rolling around in the snow. They took time out to play with the kids. We also had the opportunity to meet Austrian Renate Gotschl’s team, and the coaches. The biggest thrill of all was the day my girls’ dream came true. Yes, you guessed it! They actually were able to meet Picabo Street! She definitely lives up to her name too! She surprised the girls and came walking out. She was so sweet with them. She gave them hugs and a poster of her and her team, and signed it for them. I know, without a doubt, that the Utah 2002 Olympics touched our family’s heart, and it will be something we’ll all remember forever. Marcie Peterson, Huntsville |