18 The QUEE NS Courier • JUNE 26, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com East Elmhurst boy runs again to raise money for autism programs BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] @aaltamirano28 One East Elmhurst boy is getting his running MIDDLE VILLAGE BOY COLIN FLOOD DIES AFTER FIGHT WITH CANCER BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ @ericjankiewicz [email protected] After more than two years of a desperate fight against acute lymphocytic leukemia, 8-yearold Middle Village resident Colin Flood died on Sunday, according to father Kevin Flood’s Facebook page. “Heaven received a new angel today,” Kevin wrote on his Facebook page on June 22. Colin was described as athletic and outgoing and many pictures show him in a New York Mets shirt. He received his first round of chemotherapy in the 2012 Christmas season after he experienced fevers, night sweats, aches and pains, The Courier previously reported. Colin was forced to quit the peewee basketball league at Our Lady of Hope Catholic School after he began the treatment. After a successful bone marrow drive in 2012 and a brief victory over the cancer that same year, Colin experienced a resurgence of the disease in 2013. “It felt like a boulder had fell on us. His life, our lives, our family is once again being ripped apart by this horrible disease. This time his chance for a cure is much lower, and everything is harder, riskier and more difficult. Colin is in a fight for his life, a fight no child should ever be in once, never mind twice,” the family wrote on a charity site shortly after the relapse. Not long after, in March of this year, the U.S. Coast Guard visited Colin in Juniper Valley Park to treat him to a helicopter visit. “That is exactly the reason I have faith. What an extraordinary kid... He reminded all of us how precious life is,” Barbara Doyle-Sarti wrote on the father’s Facebook page, after hearing the news that Colin died. “God help you Kevin. No one should ever have to bury a child. My prayers to each of you trying to cope with such unfathomable loss.” Photo courtesy Bob Holden shoes ready once again to help make a difference. Max Moore, 10, will be participating in the June 29 Achilles International Hope and Possibility 5 Mile Race in Central Park for a third time. “We are super thrilled to see Max enjoy running and to see that he is eager to run each year,” said Max’s mother Jacqueline Moore. This year will be Max’s second time running to raise money and bring awareness for the Queens Museum’s ArtAccess Autism Initiatives. Last year the youth raised $1,279 in funds online, surpassing his goal of $1,000. “For us it’s a huge honor, it really moves us. It’s inspirational to us. He’s our hero,” said Michelle Lopez, manager of ArtAccess and Autism Initiatives at the Queens Museum. “It feels really good to know that he is doing this, this is his activity of choice. He chose to run again, to run for us.” The 10-year-old, who is autistic himself, has been part of the ArtAccess Autism Initiatives together with his family. This past year they have been involved in the museum’s new project called emPOWER Parents, a partnership between the Queens Museum and Museo ICO and its cultural partner, Hablarenarte, in Madrid, Spain. According to Lopez, the funds raised by Max last year helped contribute to the program. The partnership uses the arts, art therapy and technology to create and put into effect crucial programming for families of children with autism. It also creates an international network and “digital bridge” where the families can share their experiences. Max’s mother said the program has allowed him to connect with new friends in Spain who share the same interests. Max has been preparing for Sunday’s race for the past three months with Achilles Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides training and racing opportunities for children with disabilities. He has been with the group for about four years and in the past few months has been training in Central Park and also participating in several other 5K races. “I think the Achilles Kids Family is quite an exceptional group of kids, parents, staff and volunteers,” Moore said. “One big family that gets larger and larger every year.” This year Max will again be running alongside Marissa Fong, a guide provided by Achilles, and his dad, John. Although his mom said John will try to keep up with Max, he might not be able to; last year, Max left him at the three mile mark and went on to finish the race in less than one hour. “What is wonderful is that running can be something he can enjoy in the future,” Moore said. “That is all we can ask for as parents, that we help him to find his joys and passion in life. We hope Max will continue to run further distances when he gets older and maybe one day accomplish a triathlon.” To make a donation visit www.firstgiving. com/fundraiser/maxmoore/achilleshopepossibility5miler. Photo by Larry Sillen Last year, 10-yearold Max Moore ran in the Achilles International Hope and Possibility 5 Mile Race and raised $1,279 in funds online for the Queens Museum autism programs.
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