TIME TO COLLECT ON THOSE GOOD DEEDS.Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
Growing up, the kid learned some valuable lessons from his dad, but none more important than this: If you meet people with a smile and treat them with respect -- from the parking lot attendant to the guy in the glass office -- it gets noticed. Then, when the time comes Adv. 1. when the time comes - at the appropriate time; "we'll get to this question in due course" in due course, in due season, in due time, in good time one day when you need a hand or a few words of encouragement, there's no shortage of people lining up to give you just that. That's what 24-year-old Jon Aronson learned from his 55-year-old dad, Bob Aronson of Agoura Hills, who is battling inoperable inoperable /in·op·er·a·ble/ (in-op´er-ah-b'l) not susceptible to treatment by surgery. in·op·er·a·ble adj. Unsuitable for a surgical procedure. pancreatic cancer pancreatic cancer Malignant tumour of the pancreas. Risk factors include smoking, a diet high in fat, exposure to certain industrial products, and diseases such as diabetes and chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatic cancer is more common in men. . Good guys don't finish last. They win in the end. ``It's been absolutely incredible watching all the people Dad touched in his life step forward to support our family now,'' Jon said Friday, getting ready to take another five-mile bike ride in preparation for next month's L.A. Sprint Triathlon triathlon, athletic event made up of three contests. Since the 1970s the term has come to mean especially a race combining swimming, bicycling, and running. A notable example is Hawaii's Ironman Triathlon, held since 1978, which features a 2. , where he will compete to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research. Jon was working as a stockbroker Stockbroker 1. An agent that charges a fee or commission for executing buy and sell orders submitted by an investor. 2. The firm that acts as an agent for a customer, charging the customer a commission for its services. in Chicago in March when his dad called him with the bad news. ``He told me in as cool a manner as he could that the doctors found a tumor tumor: see neoplasm. on his pancreas,'' Jon said. ``Within three weeks, I had moved home, but I got tired of sitting around hoping for a cure. I needed to do something about it, and I knew I needed help.'' He went on the Internet and found the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network -- PanCan. From there he started his own Web site to talk about his Dad's cancer and ask for sponsors for his triathlon efforts to raise funds for cancer research. Within hours, the hits started to come. Donations from $25 to hundreds of dollars coming from close friends of the Aronson family to passing acquaintances. From former teachers, grocery clerks, parking lot attendants, youth baseball fathers and mothers, and business acquaintances. From people who appreciated the scholarship Bob sponsored every year at Agoura High School Agoura High School is a four-year high school, freshman-senior, in Agoura Hills, California, United States. It is the largest high school in the Las Virgenes Unified School District, with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. for a student who excelled in his or her grades, or from people who knew about the rose garden that Bob sponsored at Willow Elementary School elementary school: see school. in memory of a longtime crossing guard there. From more than 100 people Bob Aronson met and greeted in life with a smile and respect. Within a few months, the $25,000 goal Jon set had been reached -- so he raised it to $30,000 because there's no limit on the amount of money it's going to take to beat cancer. Along with the online donations for cancer research came kind words. How his dad was always so nice to them, how they never saw him without a smile. ``My dad can make friends with someone in two seconds,'' Jon says, laughing. ``We'd go to Angels games and he knew the first names of all the ushers and parking lot attendants. And they knew his. ``A lot of people say what I'm doing is pretty amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. , but it really isn't. It's all about my dad and what kind of person he is. People love him.'' He's been blessed with three great kids -- his sons Tom and Jon, and his daughter Molly, Bob said Friday, taking a break from his chemotherapy treatments. ``I am speechless speech·less adj. 1. Lacking the faculty of speech. 2. Temporarily unable to speak, as through astonishment. 3. Refraining from speech; silent. 4. and overwhelmed by the response to Jon's donation drive for cancer research. I've always stayed out of the limelight, and was taught early on in life to help people when the opportunity presents itself. ``And that is what I have always done with friends, family and strangers, never asking for anything in return. ``But when I see this response from all these wonderful people, I just have to say `thank you,' and hope that their expressions of good luck and generosity will translate into future cures for cancer patients,'' Bob said. ``Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose early since the pancreas is hidden behind other organs, and when it is discovered, a patient might already be in the late stages. ``There is factual data indicating that people over 50 who have diabetes may develop pancreatic cancer, so I would advise anyone who fits that criteria to be examined early. ``When they say `Life is short,' it truly is. We should all enjoy the time we have been given on this planet to be with our loved ones loved ones npl → seres mpl queridos loved ones npl → proches mpl et amis chers loved ones love npl , our family and our friends.'' Good guys don't finish last. They win in the end. dennis.mccarthy(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3749 For information on how to donate to Jon Aronson's triathlon competition for cancer research, log on to his Web site, www.firstgiving.com/jaronson. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Bob Aronson of Agoura Hills spends time with his son Jon before he goes on a training run for next month's L.A. Sprint Triathlon. Jon is raising money for pancreatic cancer research. |
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