Weatherford boy to benefit from race

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November 21, 2012

Weatherford boy to benefit from race

Judy Sheridan Weatherford Democrat The Weatherford Democrat Wed Nov 21, 2012, 08:00 AM CST

WEATHERFORD — Three-year-old Aiden Maloy of Weatherford, diagnosed with kidney cancer, will be the beneficiary of the second annual Thanksgiving Trot in Aledo, to be held Thursday beginning at 8 a.m. at 505 South Point Court.

Aiden, who has lost a kidney to the rare disease, named Wilms’ tumor, will receive the event’s proceeds, which will help with his medical expenses. Aiden is the son of Robert and Nora Maloy and the little brother of Hailey, who attends Ikard Elementary School in Weatherford.

Registration fees are $30 for adults and $20 for children.

Packets may be picked up on race day at the registration table at 505 South Point Court, which will be open at 7:30 a.m. A 1-mile race begins at 8 a.m.; a 5K gets under way at 8:30 a.m. All runners will receive a T-shirt.

Those who would like to participate should e-mail aledotrot@gmail.com for the official registration form.

The completed forms, along with checks payable to Nora Maloy, may be mailed to: Thanksgiving Trot, P.O. Box 1333, Aledo, TX 76008.

They may also be given to Shellie Phillips, at Stuard Elementary in Aledo, where Maloy is employed as a teacher’s assistant. Maloy is on leave and will return in March, Phillips said, after Aiden completes six months of chemotherapy.

The first year

In 2011, the first year the Thanksgiving Trot was held, $14,000 was raised for Marcia Walters, a school nurse at Stuard Elementary who underwent a double lung transplant on the first day of school.

“It was very successful,” Rhonda Torres, who co-founded the race with her son, Josh, said. “We had more than 500 runners sign up, and 350 participated. The issue was that we didn’t get a lot of coverage.

“This year, Aiden’s come into our lives, and we’re glad to do something to help this family with the battle they’re facing. [Wilm’s tumor] is a very curable disease, but there are many medical bills.

“It tugs at your heartstrings when anyone goes through this, but especially when the person is only 3 years old.”

Torres, the Dean of Education and Instructional support at Weatherford College, said she and her son Josh were out jogging on Thanksgiving Day two years ago when Josh jokingly suggested that they initiate an Aledo Turkey Trot, similar to the Fort Worth Turkey Trot event.

He made the same request last year, Torres said, and within six weeks, a committee had formed — including Rhonda Ray, Kathy Flowers, Sabrina King, June King, Cheryl Choban, Carey Durham, Sally Bond, Sharlyn Poe, Shele Laminack, Whitney Pack Harris, Niki Torres Thompson, Caitlyn Cox Dawson and Marsha Ancona — and pulled the event together.

“We had never organized a race,” Torres said, “but we worked together, and we were able to create a history for people to relate to this year. Businesses, schools, churches ... the response has been overwhelming. Aledo is a caring community, and they always stand up to support a cause.”

New committee members this year include Walters, last year’s recipient; Phillips, Loydale Schmid and Stephanie Adams. Next year, the organization will be organized as a non-profit, Torres said.

According to MayoClinic.com., Wilms’ Tumor is a rare kidney cancer which most often affects 3- to 4-year-old children. It has a good outlook due to improvements in diagnosis and treatment.