Celebrating Katie's Birthday: Steve's Ride for Nemours

Katie's Story

"In 1993, at the age of three, my daughter Kaitlin [Katie] was diagnosed with leukemia. From 1993 to 1996, Kaitlin received chemotherapy and other treatments at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. She was treated in wonderful facilities by kind and compassionate caregivers. To this day, my wife, Michelle, and I still consider the caregivers that treated my daughter to be heroes.

After Kaitlin’s diagnosis, the goals we had for her were incremental. Initially, my hope was that someday I would be able to see her getting on a school bus to go to school. After that goal was reached, my hope was that Kaitlin would go to elementary school, middle school, and then graduate from high school. Only in my wildest dreams did I imagine that Kaitlin would be a healthy, happy and much-loved junior at college, on the verge of her 21st birthday. Michelle and I have so much to be thankful for.

In recognition of Kaitlin’s 21st birthday, and in light of the many thanks we owe to Nemours, I have committed to ride my bicycle from Alfred I. duPont’s winter home in Jacksonville, Florida, to his home in Wilmington, Delaware. I plan to complete this 900+ mile ride in 9 days. My goal is to raise $100,000 (or more) for Nemours. 

Each of us has the ability to make a difference in people’s lives. We all have been blessed and are fortunate to be where we are today. Nemours’ mission is to provide health care for children, many of whom would not receive the care and treatment they need without Nemours’ help. I hope you will help me to assist Nemours in continuing its mission and make a difference in the lives of each and every family we treat.

Kaitlin is just one of the many children that Nemours has saved. With your donation, many other three-year-olds with cancer will have a greater likelihood of a complete cure and the opportunity to go on to lead healthy and happy lives."

With my deepest appreciation,

Steve Sparks