Dear Friends, As many of you know it has been an amazing few days for Jack and all of us. During this past week the LA Times and writer Ben Bolch has made our story front page news in LA. This morning I wrote a letter to the editor of the LA times to thank everyone for this wonderful experience. I hope it is okay that i share the rough draft with all of you…. Dear LA Times Sports Editor, In regards to all of Ben Bolchs work on the story of Jack Gallagher and Chris Paul. I never in a million years would dream that just weeks after the mother of my six children passed away from a Gliblastoma brain tumor, that I could tell the world my kids and I had the best Thanksgiving of our lives. Well, that is what happened thanks to Chris Paul, the LA Clippers and the NBA. On the night of November 26th while in Detroit as guests of the team my 13 year old son Jack Gallagher, was treated so well by CP3 and the Clippers that this moment was the single greatest moment of his young life. The fact the Chris wrote Jacks moms initials on his shoes, LEG was overwhelming enough, everything else that happened turned our lives around. When we finally had time to sit and think about all that happened I was not sure if it was real, or I was just reliving a story I had seen in a Disney Feature Film. All of the attention my son received from the Clippers, the NBA, FOX Sports west, ESPN, and the LA Times turned my sons world upside down in a very positive way. By Thanksgiving morning the name Jack Gallagher was trending on the internet. On his own social media platforms, his followers went form about 150 to thousands and he still ads hundreds everyday. On Saturday morning Jack woke up to 800 new messages on Instagram. Most of those from other kids and most of them from kids in Southern California. Many kids are now putting Jacks moms initials on their own sneakers to raise awareness for those suffering from Cancer. Our family was honored when asked by ESPN to allow them to produce a documentary about our story. One company contacted us about producing Jack his own sneakers and call them LEGs. Then make them available around mothers day in honor of Jack and his mom. My 20 year old son Sean said we should do this and have money raised go to the Jimmy V. Cancer research foundation. Purchase a pair of LEGs and get a LEG up on Cancer! By the way we wont move forward on any project like this without the support of CP3, the Clippers and the NBA. If a LEG shoe is ever made it must have CP3 on them as well, because Chris Paul is the man who changed our lives. Finally I must send a message to Mr. Steve Ballmer and Coach Doc Rivers. The product you have assembled on the court has changed the face of the NBA and has opened the eyes of fans across the country. What your organization is doing off the court is making our world a better place to live one person at a time. In the past two years I learned I was suffering with stage 4 Polycystic Kidney Disease. My 17 year old daughter Meghan has the same disease but thankfully is only in stage 1. The mother of my 6 kids has died from cancer, she was only 49. We recently lost our home as the bank took possession in foreclosure because of our medical situation. We know the humility that comes with having to walk into a welfare office to ask for help. Despite all of this we would not change our lives for anything because our will to overcome is RELENTLESS. What Chris Paul and the Clippers have done for us is nothing short of miraculous. Jacks 8th grade team, The Walnut Creek Wildcats, our being followed by Clipper Nation. CP3 has invited us to join him as guests in Cleveland on February 5th when they play the Cavs. When we went to Detroit Jack was there as a CP3 fan, now when he goes to see him in Cleveland he will be there as his friend. No 13 year old should ever have to lose his Mom to cancer. But when the worst in life does happen it is so nice to know there are great people in the world like Chris Paul, the LA Clippers, FOX Sports west, and the LA Times that care! While my sons wish did come true, we do have two more wishes that we are asking for. Wish one, at the end of the season when the MVP trophy is handed out Chris Pauls name should be on it. Wish 2, when next season begins we would like to be there when the Clippers raise the NBA Championship Banner! 13 year old Jack Gallagher from Erie, PA is living proof the #nbacares. God Bless Clipper Nation Mike Gallagher Erie, PA
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 15:12:57 +0000
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