One of the most memorable images of the day, for us, was of Jake signing the shirt of, and posing with, the very young and inspirational brain cancer survivor Jimmy Fowkes, winner of the LiveStrong Challenge Award. A few days ago, Jimmy's story was featured in a newspaper, in which Jimmy said 'I wouldn’t trade the last seven months for anything because of how cancer has shaped me as a person...Cancer has also inspired me to help other people.'
Jimmy needs to raise $30,000 in order to participate in this year's Ride for the Roses event, but he is aiming higher and has set himself a goal of $50,000. At the moment, he has raised $22,000. In my original feature, I reported that I had little doubt that Jimmy would achieve his goal but it seems I was wrong. I've been contacted by Jimmy's father who has told me that this is far from the truth - Jimmy needs immediate help to meet his target and I am asking the Gyllenhaalic family to help - Lance has not been in the public eye much at all this year and that has undoubtedly been to the detriment of the efforts of his young supporters, such as Jimmy, who have set themselves such laudable targets. So, if you would like to help, please visit Jimmy's fundraising page at LiveStrong. And if you fancy reading something inspirational, you may like to read Jimmy's entry on the LiveStrong site, What cancer has taught me.
I think this also goes to show just what a help it is for a charity if they have the support, and presence, of a star such as Jake.
I'm sure you'll be delighted to hear that Jimmy's dad told me that 'Jimmy finished his cancer treatment (15 months of radiation and chemotherapy) this past March, continues to regain his health and strength and will start his sophomore year in high school this week'. The term 'sophomore' is a mystery to the Brit in me, but it sounds good!
As a runner myself, albeit a terrible runner, I want to remember Jane Tomlinson tonight - she was a remarkable woman, who was given six months to live for breast cancer but turned that time into seven years of marathons and epic bike journeys across the US and Europe, raising money and awareness for cancer research. She lost the fight last night.
So here's that fundraising webpage again - please spread the word.
David Fincher - Tenth Best Director EVER
The UK Total Film magazine did a poll to discover which directors were the favourites of its readers. Not surprisingly, Alfred Hitchcock was No 1 but there at No 10 was David 'Never Enough Takes' Fincher.
The list is illustrious and I'm pleased to think that Zodiac had a hand in placing David on this list, along with the likes of Martin Scorsese, Stephen Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola and Stanley Kubrick. There's only one person missing, and that is Ang Lee.
Includes pictures from IHJ.
20 comments:
Stories of courage, tonight, on station WDW. Im glad Jimmy's father contacted you, and that you are passing along this new information. You also honor the courage of Jane Tomlinson. And the compassion of Jake.
Im feeling sad, tonight (also cold brrrr) because of rampant political and media nastiness, and my stomach sorta fell to the floor hearing the news about our pal Heath, and Michelle. I will be glad to see Jake and know that he's okay. I see from pictures in Venice that Heath looks well and Heath-y.
G'nite lovlies!
Heypositively pia sorry you're feeling sad tonight. I was glad to see the pics of Heath too, he looks good, doesn't he, and, as you say, 'Heathy'. I'll put some pics up tomorrow - I wanted to do this first. I feel so deeply for Jane's family today but how great that Jimmy goes from strength to strength - makes you wonder, doesn't it, how lucky some of us are. I hope the pennies roll in, and good for Jake for adopting a cancer charity.
Keep warm and see you tomorrow *)
Hi WDW,
Thanks for posting this. I'll definitely take a look at the Jimmy's page. It's a terrible disease; we recently lost someone close to us to cancer as well. Jane Tomlinson is a courageous woman, as well as Jimmy, and one so young at that. I enjoyed reading his entry, and am glad to hear that his health has improved enough that he can go back to high school. Good for him. Great strides have been made in cures and treatments, but support is needed so that advances can continue. Jake has a big heart! G'night, all.
WDW I'm glad you devoted a post to this. I don't consider an issue of such pressing importance to be off topic. Far from needing our patience I think you have our appreciation.
Since you gave the link to the newspaper article a few days ago, I've been deeply troubled. More than half-way around the globe there are children suffering from the twin cancers of grinding poverty and the disease itself. There is no hope for many of them because of lack of funds for the immediate attention they need to arrest the spread of the disease within them. We urgently need to do research that will find treatments that are affordable by these people. Again there is a big thrust in India, in the direction of alternative treatment which has been found to be many times cheaper, side-effect free and helpful in pain relief even if the disease is not actually conquered. In any case where we are in our battle against this killer, "victory" is in reality only a grace period so to say. There are still so many unsolved mysteries and new puzzles coming up about the causes. It's critically important to ensure the best possible quality of life for those having that grace and to look at how to extend that period to something meaningful, especially for children. I would love to know how to share some of what we are actually doing research-wise and towards prevention, with the very limited(sometimes misdirected) resources in countries like mine - it might help even Livestrong to find ways to stretch each dollar further.
Apologies for this long post WDW and thanks everyone for listening.
And here's wishing that Jimmy may meet his target and move from strength to strength. He has moved me a lot.
Great artical, WDW. A friend mentioned it to me, so I hopped right over :)
It is a sad truth to hear how many people around the world suffer from the same afflictions, yet have such different access to help, hope and cures.
In my "real job" before I had children, I was deeply involved in fundraising for cancer research and help for families affected my cancer. It wasn't until I met my first family who lost their Mother to breast cancer that I felt extremely proud to say that I was helping people. In whatever way we can, we all can help. There is so much out there for us to do for these people. And you never know, one day it could be us.
thank you for this post and tribute. I too felt a loss today hearing about Jane...a spirit that will live on.
Thanks for the info about the websites for Jimmy and the fundraising work he is doing, WDW. I'm on my way over to the site now!
I love those pics of Jake and David Fincher. Awwww! Who could ever doubt that the two are friends...in spite of how frustrating it might be to work together!!! The look like two teenagers fussing with each other's ties on Prom Night!!!
Hmmm, bobbyanna, I thought it might be a mock fight myself! Or a mini-garrotting :)
Thank you for the post, WDW, it deserves our support.
Thanks WDW for your heads up: we'll never do enough to help people fighting against cancer and such serious diseases.:(
And hugs to Incognita for being such a caring person...:*)
David and Jake together fixing each-other collars, how cute...:)
Hi everybody - thanks so much from me for taking the time to read Jimmy's page. As you say, this terrible disease unites us all and we have much to learn from people like Jimmy and Jane. I have no doubt big hearted Jake would agree.
Marina - thanks for commenting and I'm sorry for your recent loss :(
Thanks Incognita and for drawing our attention to te Indian perspective, where, as you say, poverty and cancer can often go hand in hand. I know that there are agrements in place whereby companies are being given additional funding and resources by international bodies to explore anticancer therapies in the developing world (as well as to provide support to governments as they distribute them), but it is a big battle and it's early days. Scientists' understanding of how cancer actually attacks the human body is being transformed radically at the moment, which will lead to new treatments, but like everything, it takes time, it takes money and it takes interest.
Thanks Valentine - I'm so glad your friend saw this and you came by. It is great that you were able to do something practical.
Hi Bobbyanna and Anouska - how I love these pictures of Jake and David - all their struggles forgotten as they smarten each other up - Jake looked perfectly smart to me already so this looks much more like chimpanzee ritual grooming ;)
Hi Xenia - thanks for commenting and caring :)And yes they look so cute :D
Thanks, WDW, for this Jimmy post -- brave boy AND family. Donation made.
By the way, "sophomore" means 10th grade -- first year of high school, two more to go.
Hi Beckela - thank you! How kind of you.
The US school system is not a little complicated.... ;)
Thanks for this post WDW:) It makes me appreciate how lucky I am and puts a lot of things into perspective.
As for Spandex Jake- I'm saying nothing!!!:)
This is a wonderful post,WDW,something that touches us all, even if it had no Jake connection at all.
I've lost several relatives and 2 friends to cancer in years gone by,and my Dad had a lung tumour removed (successfully,please God)about 9 months ago. I also help cancer patients in a small way through my job. Not surprisingly,therefore, I already donate to Marie Curie Nurses and the local hospice, but I shall certainly be contributing to Jimmy's fundraising efforts this year.
I read his wonderful article on Lance's site with tears in my eyes, he's so brave with wisdom and philanthropic propensities way beyond his years. Jane Tomlinson too has been a real inspiration, someone to marvel at, putting herself through so many gruelling challenges to raise money for fellow cancer sufferers while so ill herself.
When people are given such a frightening diagnosis they tend to fall into one of two categories, those who are so devastated by it they all but turn their faces to the wall and give up and those who come out fighting, like Jimmy and Jane. I'm ashamed to say that I fear I would fall into the former group if,God forbid,I were similarly stricken and the bravery of those who battle away against all the odds and help others at the same time amazes and humbles me. Definitely a moving and worthwile post,WDW.
On a happier note,I too love the photos of Jake and David Fincher helping each other smarten up for the Press Conference at Cannes. During filming poor Jake may have been driven to pulling Fincher's tie as tight as he could manage,given the obsessive nature of the director's style, but they were obviously friends here and rightly so, having made a film of which they could both be justifiably very proud.
Thanks for your kind words WDW. :')
I forgot to mention how much I love these pics of David and Jake - just goes to show that while they may have had an "intense" working relationship, they are professional and mature enough to remain friends and respect each other, and realize it's for the good of the final product, an excellent film. I admired David Fincher for being so exacting, you'd want the film to be as godd as it could possibly be, and I'll bet Jake and the cast did too, and a great film was their reward. I always thouht the reports in the press were overblown. :)
Thanks for commenting Twisted Logic :)
Nadine - thanks for that wonderful comment. It's hard to know how such a disease would affect each of us but I fear I would not be one of the brave ones.
I love your image of Jake pulling hard on David's tie during filming ;)
Hi Marina Whatever happened on the set of this film, I'm just glad everything worked out in the end and a truly brilliant film was the result.
Thanks everyone for commenting on this special post and, if I may, thank you for generosity *)
These pics of David and Jake are just so "mentor-ish" I love them. :)
Thanks so much WDW for this courageous story about Jimmy and for creating awareness to his plight to raise money. Especially glad to hear his treatments are over and that he will be looking forward to starting high school. I've come to notice often, that kids/teenagers that have an illness/disease/disability, just going to school and wanting to continue their education is so important to them because, it gives them that sense of normalcy to their lives, without always having to focus on their illness all the time. Like their illness isen't what defines them.
It's been apparent that Jake has often showed his interest in cancer charities because cancer supposedly has touched many of his family members.
It was nice to see pics of Heath enjoying himself in Venice....now, if only he could also attend the TIFF for the premiere of INT on the 12th or 14th. It's not looking hopeful though, since I haven't heard of anymore being added to attend since the first list was released...but never say never I suppose.
Hmmm, it would have been interesting if "Never Enough Takes Fincher" would have directed Brokeback huh?! Like say, for either tent scene..... ;) So true, Ang Lee should have been on the Total Film directors list. That pic of Jake and David is precious.
Thanks so much to WD&W for taking time to share a little about my son Jimmy's experiences over the past 20 months, and to the readers of this blog for all your well-wishes and thoughtful comments. Jimmy and (everyone in our family) really appreciate it. Thank you also to this blog for sharing in Jimmy's efforts to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and this year's LIVESTRONG campaign and Ride For The Roses (to help other cancer patients and their families). A big thank you to your readers who have made donations and thanks in advance to those of you who plan to donate. Jimmy raised another $1,000 over the past two days due to your generosity. He has now raised over $24,000 toward his goal of raising $30,000 by September 24th.
The smiles you see on Jimmy's face in the pictures with Jake and Lance are a very accurate reflection of how thrilled he was to meet, talk and ride with both of them last fall. Jake could not have been nicer to Jimmy.
You guys are awesome!
Best to all,
Dan (Jimmy's dad)
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