One day when you look back and count the ways you have brightened the life of someone else, what will you see?  I hope you get to say that you were one person who was able to purchase and fill a backpack full of gifts for a child going through cancer treatment in Indiana.  There is no way in the world that THAT could be a bad memory.  As an adult I cannot imagine the pain they must endure and I bring myself back to this thought whenever I decide I’m going to complain about something I have to live with, but am not dying from nor could it kill me. Imagine being the parents of these children and wondering if your baby will ever be well again, knowing the high percentage of people who don’t make it through.  Would you be thankful for those who brought your child the smallest ray of hope, a distraction from the pain they go through during each treatment, and that smile that lights up their face when they realize they are significant to someone whom they don’t even know?!

The namesake of Tatum’s Bags of Fun, Tatum Parker, is herself a two-time cancer survivor and she is only 12 years old.  Here she is telling you her story on YouTube http://youtu.be/VcJ7l8Uif7E.  She is 12 years old and giving back the same gift time and time again that she received while in chemotherapy and radiation treatment the second time she was diagnosed and the same gift you could give right now.  Each backpack given costs $350 to fill and is filled with age-appropriate activities according to the age of the recipient and their likes; the backpack includes an electronic item and is personally delivered by Tatum and/or her family.  It is my goal to help Tatum keep doing this each and every year that I possibly can.  If you need more evidence of the great things this triathlon team is doing to help Tatum reach her goals please visit the rest of the team’s profiles and go to tatumsbagsoffun.org and read the latest!

I appreciate any donation to TBF and every single share of this page. Please consider giving to a cause that more than understands the pain children go through and that the family feels every time these beautiful children have to endure the long and painful treatments for a cure.

Give the gift of a smile, you could never look back and frown at the impact you made in a child’s life.  Thanks for visiting my page.  IF you have any questions or want to give in a unique way, e.g. according to mileage or any other way you can think of please let me know by emailing me at triathlon@mariemarcum.com and we’ll work it out.  Again, thanks for visiting and thanks for giving!

Gratefully,

Marie C. Marcum
“Be Strong Stay Strong”