By Andrea Greif | Senior Director, Communications
When Tracey learned that his cousin’s son, four-year-old Parker, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2011, he was motivated to act – in a big way.
“I wanted to take on a challenge and create a project to try to match the enormity of Parker’s cancer diagnosis,” said Tracey.
He had already done a race with LLS’s Team In Training, so immediately signed up to run back-to-back marathons while raising funds for research and blogging about Parker and what his family was facing.
After the races, he created “The Flat Parker Project.”
“It was important to continue to be with Parker on every step of his journey from diagnosis to remission, which we knew could be over three years,” Tracey said. “And through the Flat Parker Project we could continue to tell his story, educate others on leukemia and, importantly, create a fun distraction for Parker and his family during a such challenging time in their lives.”
Flat Parker, a 12-inch flat wooden caricature made in the likeness of the real Parker, has been traveling throughout the US and the world for Parker, an adventurous boy who loves to explore, but cannot travel because of his diagnosis.
In 2012 Flat Parker traveled all “50 States in 365 Days” and is now on a 2014 World Tour trying to visit all seven continents. He was hosted by the family of an NHL hockey player, in Sochi, Russia, for the Olympics. He’s been to China with a family adopting a special needs child there, and most recently was in Brazil for the World Cup. And who knows, maybe he will make an appearance here in White Plains, NY at the LLS office when he makes it to North America!
Parker, now seven, has endured three years of battling cancer, and while he is doing well now, he is still undergoing treatments.
Parker and his family have been involved with LLS since shortly after his diagnosis. He was named this year’s "Boy of the Year" of LLS’s Michigan chapter, attending the closing ceremony of the Man & Woman of the Year campaign last month. In 2012, he was the honored hero for the Downriver, MI, Light the Night Walk.
“The Flat Parker Project has been a great way to raise awareness about blood cancers and LLS,” Tracey said. “Through it, others have been inspired to act and it has offered hope to many others who have been touched by blood cancers. No one should face cancer alone. Through Parker and his flat buddy, we have created a community - a family of supporters.”
Parker’s parents say the project has kept the whole family entertained and distracted, especially during the dark times. They continue to be inspired by the comments and emails coming from people they have never met that pour in from around the US and world, thanks to connections made through social media.
You can join Flat Parker on his adventure to travel the world, along with Parker’s journey battling leukemia, through the Flat Parker Facebook page and blog at flatparker.com!!
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