Chief Steward Billy Cordova, pictured third from the left
Billy Cordova is a Chief Steward in Southern Manhattan. Earlier this year, Billy sent out an email looking for support on a project very close to his heart, “The Foundation’s annual Walk for Epilepsy”. Please read the emails below, including the one stating the great results of his labor. Billy is at it again, this time for a fund raiser for Diabetes. Read the email and please join in to support the cause!
1st email:
To My Family, Friends, Co-workers, Email buds, Union Brothers & Sisters…
I wanted to let you know that on Sunday, March 27, I will be in Washington, D.C. for the Epilepsy Foundation’s annual National Walk for Epilepsy. As many of you are aware, my oldest daughter, Dania, has Epilepsy.
This past year has had its ups and downs. Dania was doing well in the beginning of 2010. She had begun receiving a new medication and was finally improving. But as usually happens with many epileptics, the new meds eventually ceased providing her with optimum results and she began to regress by having ‘auras’, which are an uneasy sense (sometimes physical), that something is about to happen. At a minimum, these auras produce extreme fear. But more often, they lead to a full physical seizure.
As you can imagine, this has been an emotional year for Dania and our family. From medication adjustments, to discussions about another brain surgery. Fortunately, the surgery discussion was tabled, at least for now. On the flip side, this has also been another year of Dania demonstrating her bravery. Given her challenges, Dania once again has proven her tenacity and strength to overcome. She has just completed her graduate studies and earned her Masters’ Degree in Urban Management and Policy. You can imagine how proud we are of her. Now, she is looking for a full time job! We are hoping this will be a turning point for her.
Epilepsy is often a lifelong illness and, while we don’t know what the future will bring, we do know that the Epilepsy Foundation has provided support, education and, more importantly hope to epileptics and their families stricken with its debilitating effects.
My family is participating in the annual Epilepsy walk and we are asking for your support. Our goal is to surpass the amount we collected last year, $7100. We know we can do it with your generosity.
Thanks in advance for your support. I’ll e-mail you about my progress!
Sincerely,
Bill Cordova
2nd email:
The Cordova Crusaders are humbled by the support we received from our dear friends, family and co-workers. With your help we were able to surpass our fundraising goals ($7000.00 we collected close to $7500.00) and assist the Epilepsy Foundation in their quest towards advancing research and developing new medications. Thank you for your generosity, good wishes and, especially for your prayers for Dania. Dania has added an attachment that includes a few pictures and some words of appreciation.
With love and gratitude,
Bill
P.S. Dania has been stable for 3 months. Please keep her in your prayers.
Letter from Dania:
To All of Our Supporters:
I want to thank all of you for your generous support this year helping the Cordova Crusaders to achieve and far surpass our original goal for the 2011 Walk for Epilepsy. This year, thanks to your support, we raised over $7,000!!!!
My family and I are extremely grateful and are already looking forward to next year’s walk. This year we were joined by family and friends and we hope we can get others to join our team in the future!!
It is through support like yours that epilepsy will continue to receive the attention and awareness to bring us closer to a cure!!
Thank you!
Dania
Billy is at it again!
3rd email:
Dear Union Brothers, Sisters, Friends and Family:
On Sunday June 5, 2011, I will be riding in the annual ‘Tour de Cure’ Bike Ride which is a fund raiser for Diabetes. I am looking for riders to join my team, click the link — Team Cordova. If you want to join me or if you know someone who does please let me know.
In past years I ran in memory of my Dad who suffered with the diabetes for many years. This year I am still riding in memory of my dad, but I’m also riding for friends and family who I’ve learn in this past year also have diabetes. I’m riding for Juliette Hogarty, Ryan Keys, Richie Drummond, Freddy Alvarado, and Christina Boas. I’m also riding for friends, family and co-workers who have suffered from diabetes silently.
With your support, there’s hope! Diabetes can take an enormous emotional and physical toll on people with diabetes and their families. My dad lost both his legs to this crippling illness which was devastating to all of us. You can help us stop diabetes by joining my ‘Team Cordova‘ and raising funds to help the American Diabetes Association provide community-base education programs, protect the rights of people with diabetes and fund critical research for a cure.
Chief Steward Billy Cordova with his daughters Dania and Larissa and his wife Ada.
Please contact me for more information or visit our Team Web page using the link below. Thank you in advance for any help and support you can provide.
Link to web page Team Cordova
Together we can stop diabetes. One mile at a time.
Sincerely,
Bill Cordova
917-597-0600
bill.cordova@ymail.com