By Amanda Galloway
special correspondent

Connor’s Heroes has a variety of upcoming events to support the end of childhood cancer: July 25 in Innsbrook: Music for Massey, featuring Chris Isaak, Marc Broussard, and The Waybacks. Aug. 15 at The Diamond: The first 2,000 kids get a free lunchbox featuring the superheroes of Connor’s Heroes as the Flying Squirrels take on the Portland Sea Dogs.Sept. 25 in Innsbrook: Connor’s Heroes Family Festival, featuring food, music, and fun for kids and parents alike. For more information on Connor’s Heroes, and their upcoming events, visit www.connorsheroes.org.

Connor’s Heroes, a nonprofit organization that fights to raise awareness and research for childhood cancer, might only be four years old, but it has taken on cancer with a creative vengeance.

Steven and Lisa Goodwin created Connor’s Heroes in honor of their son, Connor, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at only 22 months of age.  After two and a half years of chemotherapy, Connor has now been in remission since September 2003.  His strength and maturity through the entire treatment process, combined with the selfless support given by countless friends and strangers, inspired his parents to create the organization.

“We finished treatment, and Connor was doing well,” Steven Goodwin said.  “We wanted to give back.  We created the name “Connor’s Heroes” to celebrate the heroes that helped us.”

Founded on the three principles of support, guidance, and hope, the organization recognizes the amount of stress childhood cancer places upon children and families alike.  Not only is cancer the number one disease killer of children in the United States, but one in five kids with such cancer die, Goodwin explained.

Since Connor’s Heroes began four years ago, the organization has grown to include thousands of volunteers, all in an attempt to build a “community of heroes,” Goodwin said.

While the organization supports a variety of unique and creative fundraising and supportive activities, two sets of brothers, Andrew and Mark Elmore and Jim and Scot Sohr decided on perhaps the most physically grueling of them all.

The brothers, aged 47 to 50, undertook a challenge to hike the Grand Canyon, from edge to edge and back, in two days. 

“All four are avid outdoors men,” Goodwin explained, “but it was still a crazy thing to do.  They hiked it twice as fast as it is recommended.”

The brothers began their hike on May 27, when the average high temperature in the canyon is over ninety degrees.  It took them eleven hours to cross one way, and nine hours the other.  Trail guides recommend taking two days to cross one way.

Not only were the four men able to push themselves to the physical limit in the name of childhood cancer, but they also raised $10,000 for Connor’s Heroes.

Such creative fundraising is typical for the organization, as they prepare activities that interest children and adults alike, of all backgrounds and interests.

Since the founding, Connor’s Heroes has provided cancer patients and their parents with over 400 backpacks filled with necessary supplies for long hospital visits.  This includes tissues, gas cards, phone cards, meals, and house cleanings.

The organization has also worked with the VCU Massey Cancer Center, having started the Pediatric Research Endowment.  Volunteers have also worked with the Bone Marrow Transplant Program, helping to ease the fears of patients that are often put in isolation for long periods of time.

“We go in before and decorate their room,” Connor Goodwin said, who is just as active in Connor’s Heroes as his parents, “we also give them a gift when they enter and when they leave.” 

Connor is especially proud of the “Room of Possibilities” that was created for parents and kids that are healthy enough to leave their rooms.

“There is everything in there that kids could want.  There are Xboxes, Wiis, couches, murals, and any toys for any age or any gender,” Connor said.

At eight and half years old, Connor is mature far beyond his age, with an adult understanding of just how difficult childhood cancer can be.

“My favorite part of Connor’s Heroes is getting to meet the other kids and to learn their personalities.  I feel like I can inspire them,” he said, “I kicked cancer and they can too.”

Connor and his family are looking forward to their upcoming program, Christmas in July, in which every Monday and Friday in July, Connor’s Heroes will bring gifts to children in the hospital and their siblings, which are often overlooked in such trying times.”

“Strangers come up to me and say they are inspired,” Connor said.  “Well they become board members or volunteers, and they aren’t strangers anymore – they are heroes.”