Events

IRONMAN SAM

IRONMANSAM.ORG

Many Running White Rock Marathon For A Cause

Selena Hernandez
GRAPEVINE (CBS 11 / TXA 21)

Newscast:http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=49445@ktvt.dayport.com

A six-year-old Grapevine boy is inspiring adults and a community to go the distance. Sam Fleming is living with a rare form of cancer and his struggle has those who know and love him, pounding the pavement to help raise money and awareness about his condition. An active and energetic six year old, Sam appears to be perfectly healthy. "I'm Luke Skywalker," Sam said as he swung his lightsabre. Yet, convincingly disguised behind his smile and infectious energy, Sam is struggling with a life-threatening form of cancer. "Pretty wierd things happen there. Sometimes it gets painful," Sam said of his battle. Sam was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an aggressive cancer that infiltrated his little body two years ago. Today, Sam takes monthly trips to New York City to receive progessive treatments to strengthen his anitbodies. "It's not that great, but I have a couple of friends," Sam said of his required treatments. It's an agonizing week every month marked by pain and discomfort. Roger Fleming, Sam's father, likens the experience to that of having your skin on fire. Yet, it is a necessary treatment to help heal Sam's fragile body. "We're just basically buying time to find that silver bullet that will knock out the cancer," Sam's mother, Linda Fleming said. Yet, through the pain, Sam has shown amazing resillence. His spirt is so inspirational, some are using his strength to fuel a fundraising effort. "It's amazing to watch and to think of the trivial problems we have, is sad, compared to what Sam is going through," Michael Lawrence said. Lawrence is among over a dozen others who are running the White Rock Marathon Sunday morning, in Sam's honor. They're raising money for the Fleming family and sporting special tee-shirts in his honor. It's an inspiried run for a child who continues jogging his personal marathon of hope. "They use him as their inspiration and that's just an amazing feeling because to us, he is our hero, he keeps us going." Sam's cancer has stabalized but he must continue going through his painful treatments. Meanwhile, the group of runners helped raise over $3,500 dollars for the Fleming family. Sam is leading the way at New York City's charity fun run!