Wagons full of LEGO sets

Niko's legacy continues as another 300 Lego sets are dropped off at the Children's Hospital in Burlington, VT. I travelled from Philadelphia with LEGO sets that I purchased to match the $6.11 donations made to the Great Cycle Challenge. The LEGOs filled nine wagons! They will be given to kids, who like Niko had been, are being treated at the hospital. Niko's mom, dad and sister are all involved in scouting. (Can you spot me in my orange GCC t-shirt? I am wearing the Troop 611 neckerchief that I was given when I was named an honorary member of the Troop.)

The wind was cold, the heart was warm.

I travelled to Burlington, VT to participate in the LEGO drop-off at the Children's Hospital. Niko's family invited me and my wife to join them for brunch before the drop-off. After brunch, Heather (mom), Alex (dad), Ella (Niko's sister) went for a short walk along the Lake Champlain. The wind was blowing hard making it feel much colder. However, meeting Niko's family was a heartwarming experience.

You have to wonder!

There are so many "connections" in this year's Great Cycle between me and Niko.

1. I saw a story about Niko's cancer battle in a Eagle Scout Facebook Group. (I am an Eagle Scout).

2. Niko's Eagle Scout project was collecting LEGO sets to give to patients at the Children's Hospital were he had been treated. (I collect Pez dispenser's and this year's giveaway at a Pez convention was a LEGO inspired dispenser.)

3. Only 4% of all scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout. (Only 4% of all federal cancer research funding is allocated to childhood cancers.)

4. On my very first ride of the Challenge, I had an accident and am undergoing physical therapy on my neck and shoulders. (Niko's mother is a cooperative owner of a physical therapy business and is also certified therapist for cranio-sacral massage.)

5. Niko had brain cancer. (Several years ago I rode for a high school classmate's granddaughter who also had brain cancer. She survived and was asked to prom by a boy named Niko.)

My t-shirt stopped a crowd!

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia had a fundraising walk scheduled that was washed out by heavy rain. A large group of participants decided to go the King of Prussia Mall to do their walk. I happened to be doing one of my PT walks there. When they saw the t-shirt I was wearing, they stopped to thank me for my donations of blood and platelets. They too know how important these fluids are to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Please donate either if you are eligible. It costs nothing other than your time.