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marriage of 54 years that has produced four children, 15 grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. Since 2013, NSGA’s Personal Best program has profiled athletes with wide- ranging stories of overcoming challenges with the goal to inspire and motivate all aging Americans to stay active to pursue their own “personal best” lifestyle. Johnson is the first Idaho athlete to be recognized in the program. “Our recognition program has profiled athletes of all abilities from many backgrounds. They provide a simple common message of inspiration to others of all ages: Just keep moving and you will enjoy a healthier, happier and longer life. We offer Senior Games as a great option to find fitness, fun and fellowship,” added Riker. NSGA is a nonprofit Multi- Sports Council member of the United States Olympic Committee that promotes health and wellness for adults 50 and over through education, fitness and sport. It governs the biennial National Senior Games, the largest multi- sport event for people age 50+ in the world. Athletes qualify to compete at one of 53 sanctioned state games such as the Idaho Senior Games. 10,000+ athletes are expected to compete in 20 medal sports over 12 days in five-year age divisions at the 2019 National Senior Games presented by Humana, to be hosted in Albuquerque, New Mexico from June 14-25, 2019. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Finding Cures, Saving Children During National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month T his year, parents of nearly 16,000 children in the United States will hear the words, “Your child has cancer.” These words mean heartbreak and despair for families who become unwilling participants in a battle with the nation’s leading cause of death from disease in children. But, they are not alone in their battle. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way in which the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer. Throughout the month of September – National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – communities across the U.S. are joining the fight against childhood cancer by supporting St. Jude and sharing information at stjude.org/september. St. Jude is where doctors often send their toughest cases because the hospital has the world’s best survival rates for some of the most aggressive childhood cancers. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since it opened more than 50 years ago, and St. Jude is working to increase survival rates to 90 percent in the next decade. But even that’s not good enough. Survival rates for some of the most difficult-to-treat childhood cancers remain unacceptably low. For those who win their battles against childhood cancer, victory often comes at a cost as survivors face a much higher risk of experiencing unique long-term health effects later in life. And while 175,000 children around the world are diagnosed with cancer each year, fewer than 40 percent of these children are adequately diagnosed and treated.
 Because the majority of St. Jude funding comes from individual contributors, St. Jude doctors and scientists have the freedom to pursue all available avenues in investigating these diseases, treating their patients and working to enhance the quality and quantity of life that survivors enjoy now and in the future. The continued generosity of individual contributors is critical given that pediatric cancer research is woefully underfunded, and St. Jude is a leading institution in investment into pediatric cancer research. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. The generosity of individual contributors and partnerships like the USAPA allow St. Jude doctors and scientists to embark upon ambitious, industry-leading efforts and ensures that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Since the partnership began just two short years ago, the USAPA has donated nearly $25,000 with hopes of raising that total considerably in the coming year. Join St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and supporters from across the nation as the critical need for awareness and support is highlighted for those impacted by pediatric cancer. If you have any upcoming tournaments or events and would like to create your own fundraiser for St. Jude around it, please reach out to your St. Jude team at 1.800.457.2444 or email [email protected] to help you get started. • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 | MAGAZINE 19