Introduction:
What follows is Bob Rebello’s 14-Year worldwide marathons mission statement, the reason for his mission, and his 14-Year plan that will ensure that he will meet his commitment.
Bob Rebello is “One Man on a Mission – committed to a Cause – Worldwide Impact”.
Bob’s 14-Year Mission: [1999 to 2012]
1. To raise $100,000 for kidney cancer research at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center [BIDMC] in Boston, Massachusetts in memory of my brother, and best friend, John by finishing worldwide marathons on 7 continents. To ensure 100% of the donations go directly to kidney cancer research I pay all of the expenses associated with raising the funds.
2. To bring worldwide awareness about kidney cancer.
Bob’s Reason for his 14-Year Mission: [1999 to 2012]
On May 23rd, my 63rd birthday, I made a commitment to raise $100k for kidney cancer research, and to bring worldwide awareness about kidney cancer, by finishing marathons on all 7 continents in memory of my brother, and best friend, John who lost his battle with kidney cancer on February 27, 1999. John was able to live for four extra years because of the kidney cancer expertise and dedication of the Beth Israel Deaconess medical staff. For more than three years I accompanied my brother John to his chemotherapy sessions at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where I witnessed the caring, skills, and dedication of his doctors and nurses.
Kidney cancer is a cancer that not many people know about, but in 2009 the estimated number of new cases of kidney cancer in the US was 53,000, the estimated deaths in the US was 13,000 [100,000 worldwide] and an estimated 200,000 men and women are recovering from kidney cancer. Kidney cancer is a worldwide cancer and occurs mostly in men but women also are suffering with kidney cancer
Kidney cancer is the least funded of all of the major cancers funded by the National Institute of Health [NIH] and unless the research funding levels increase dramatically to find a cure for kidney cancer many men and women will continue to suffer and die from this deadly cancer. Because of the lack of aggressive funding for kidney cancer research there is no known absolute cause for the development of kidney cancer and there is no known absolute cure for kidney cancer.
Bob’s 14-Year Plan: [1999 to 2012]
The detailed plan that I put in place on May 23, 1999 [my 63rd birthday] was a 14-year commitment to raise $100k for kidney cancer research and to bring worldwide awareness about kidney cancer by finishing a sanctioned [measured 26.2 miles] worldwide marathon every year for 14 years. During those 14-years I will finish at least 1 marathon on all 7 continents [North America, South America, Europe, Australia,, Asia, Africa, and Antarctica]. I will start my mission, at age 63, by finishing the 1999 USMC Marathon in Washington, DC and complete my mission 14 years later, at age 75, when I finish the 2012 Boston Marathon. The reason I am completing my mission in Boston, Massachusetts is because that is where my brother John spent most of his life and that is where the hospital [Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center] is that extended John’s life by 4 years.
My personal goals are:
1. To write a book about my worldwide adventures and to publish the book after I finish the Boston marathon in 2102.
2. Speak to Organizations/Groups/Companies about my worldwide adventures and to inspire others.
3. To run more miles than the circumference of the earth [24,901.55 miles] over the 14-Years of daily training and yearly races and marathons.