Mission Moment Monday: Chuck and His Champions

Charles O'Toole (Chuck) was a strong, brave, devoted husband, father and grandfather who led a very full life. At the age of 55, he discovered he had Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

With his wife Sharon and three grown children (Kevin, Kelly and Kristin) fighting on his side, Chuck, courageously endured his intense battles against an aggressive disease. Because of his history with cardiomyopathy, Chuck couldn't do AVBD which meant he had to do many different chemo agents, autologous stem cell transplant, radiation and clinical trials. Through it all, he developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and a secondary cancer.

For three years, Chuck endured treatments. With unwavering strength and faith, he and his family struggled through the cancer journey together. But in the summer of 2014, Chuck's journey came to an end. With his wife and children beside him, he took his final breath. Now the four of them have chosen to honor their beloved husband and father by participating in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon together as a team, Chuck's Champions.

Sharon, his adorable, spunky wife is the team captain. Through tears and laughter, she remembers her husband. The two met as teenagers and married at the tender age of 20. They were about to celebrate 40 years of marriage when Chuck's life ended. Sharon is a registered nurse, something she often found both a blessing and a curse during the three years of her husband's cancer treatments. "It was a constant struggle to balance the knowledge of the inevitability of the disease with the hope and faith that the inevitability would not occur," she said.

For the kids, seeing their dad so sick was incredibly difficult. Kevin and Kelly both live out of state and were thankful for the times they got to visit their dad. Kristin was living in town, pursuing her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Her dad told her to focus on her studies, but it was tough because she was there to see the many hardships and setbacks her dad endured.

This family will run the streets of Houston on January 18 with many emotions. Surely they will miss Chuck and think of him every step of the way, and just as surely, they can be proud of their great accomplishment. They were champions for Chuck during his illness and they continue to be champions for him and the millions of others enduring blood cancers.

Chuck's Champions, thank you all for your bravery! Thank you for sharing your amazing journey with us. We will all continue to fight blood cancers til there is a cure.

*If you would like to make a donation to Chuck's Champions, CLICK HERE.

Charles O'Toole, a wonderful man who is greatly missed

Sharon O'Toole: "He loved God and his family first and foremost.
We were blessed to have him in our lives.
I just wish I knew why he had to be taken from us so soon."