Run, Roy, Run!
It just takes one event, one meeting, or one grocery store trip to meet a person or hear a story that will impact your life. Roy Ponder, in our DFW office, and his wife Chris were attending an information meeting for a network group in Dallas one night back in 2009. They were all socializing, meeting new people and telling stories when one mom told her story that changed their life as they know it. Mo shared with them about her son Griffin’s fight with the “bad guys.” Bad guys to Griffin but called Leukemia to all of us.
Griffin had been fighting the “bad guys” for four years and was only six years old at this point. A six year old little boy who had already endured two bone marrow transplants and a fight most adults don’t ever go through. At the time, Roy and Chris’ little boy was two, same age Griffin was when he was diagnosed. Mo shared that after 4 years, there was nothing left the doctors could do and he passed shortly after. Griffin had once expressed all he wants now is for people to help fight the “bad guys.” So that’s exactly what Roy and Chris have been doing since that night. Being so incredibly touched by Mo and Griffin even though having no direct connection to their story, they knew right then and there they were going to get involved.
If there is one thing you all should know about Roy, it’s that he is committed. Committed to his clients, protecting people, being honest and all around just doing anything he can for others. When the opportunity to bring awareness for The Leukemia Lymphoma Society was brought to Roy and Chris, being just as committed to this cause was no exception.
“My overall goal is to raise as much funds and bring as much awareness to the cause as possible” Roy expressed. Roy and Chris bring the words “committed” and “awareness” to a whole other level. They not only wanted to help, they wanted to lead and be an example to others. Never being runners before, they have accomplished 70 running events combined and raised over $60,000 since 2009!
Their latest awareness event was nothing short of grand…
Rolling out the red carpet, bringing out the slot machines and casino games, setting up the silent auction items…this was going to be a night to remember. Both having full time jobs and 2 little ones at home, planning an event as grand as this took every moment of spare time Roy and Chris could find. Working at Dagley Insurance opened so many doors for Roy including chamber groups and networking outings that helped make this night possible. Normally getting food, drinks and time donated can be a daunting task, but for such an amazing cause, everything is possible. Hundreds of hours planning, 75 people in attendance, dozens of games, endless amount of food, a magician and priceless memories…this was their biggest fundraising event year to date with a grand total of $5,041 raised!
Holiday season for most people include lots of eating, eating and more eating. For Roy, you can count that he’ll be running, running and more running. The weekend of October 17th he has a 40 mile run, in November a 100 MILE RUN (like what!?) and in December…a 55 HOUR RUN!! Roy, I think we speak for everyone when we say WOW!