"It's nice to know I'm helping other people in my position around the world," he said. "I've gotten a lot of notes, a lot of messages, packages and everything else. A lot of it is from the cancer community, which is like a family. That obviously means a lot and is kind of the biggest support because they know what I'm going through and they can relate to it." 

      Eric Shanteau      (from interview  on Fox Sports)

I borrowed this quote from a Fox Sports story. I said to Eric when I first talked with him, that the support of the cancer community is like no other . There is a power in it, that just about everyone I know or came across  that has been touched by cancer, eventually comes to understand. It is a Family.  You can feel the strength ,hope and fight from others  who have have experienced cancer. There is a great comfort  in knowing that a bunch of people you have never met, are suddenly there to support you, without conditions .  I have had friends dissapear, even family dissappear because of the fear of the word cancer,. Some don't know what to say.  Some, believe it or not, are afraid  they will catch it.  We have all experienced that to some degree, which is why  I  contacted him.   I wanted him to know that there were millions of people, all over the world, that silently, or very vocally, are supporting him. Lance Armstrong will tell you that, and is the base of his Foundation.   Those of us who have experienced cancer, will tell you that.   It doesn't ask anything of him, only that he  follows his dream, beats the disease. That's it.   It is Family supporting family.

To those who have not experienced it, it is difficult to explain.  It's almost like being lost during a hurricane and you see a light,.  You follow the light and knock on the door, and people welcome you in from the Storm .  Comfort, warmth and strength. relief.

Eric knows both sides of this. He is supporting his fathers battle also. I can only imagine how his father felt at hearing his son's  diagnosis. That he might not get to  participate  in something he has trained for, dreamed of   for a long time. I am sure there were sacrifices  the family  made in support of him to follow the dream.   How proud and happy his parents must be.  To them, I send the message that  we are proud of him too. At the age of 24, he has already made a huge contribution to his fellow man.  The future  has only begun for him.  To Mr and Mrs Shanteau, you have one  heck of a son.  Know also we are  also  with you and send our strength , thoughts and be  will be right here with you, as we watch  your son , and your    family,  live the dream.   Your family also has grown quite a bit, and we are with you also.   We are very proud to have Eric represent us, and the United States Of America  in the 2008  Olympic Games. 

So I hope everyone will spread the word, and post messages of support   for Eric and his whole family.  I assure you he will read these.  I know he appreciates them.

 www.acor.org/tcrc