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John Charles’ kids to run for lung cancer research
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FAMILY AFFAIR: From left, Siblings megan Lewis, 27; Brian Charles, 23; and Molly Charles, 26, site outside the Girard Fire Department where their Father, John Charles, wass a firefighter for more than 20 years. He died from lung cancer last year. The memorial bench has his name engraved on it.
The siblings have surpassed their collection goal.
GIRARD — Before he died at 65 of complications from lung cancer, John Charles led a full life socializing with and helping those around him. Now, his family hopes he can continue to be a help even in death.
Charles, a lifelong Girard resident, spent more than 20 years battling fires as a member of the city fire department, something he took pride in doing. He also spent long hours socializing with patrons and friends at the Perillo Bar in the downtown area, which he owned for many years. The bar is now called The Alumni.
Besides his work as a firefighter and businessman, Charles was a boxer and sports enthusiast and well-liked throughout the city.
Lung cancer ended Charles’ life in 2007. He was diagnosed with the disease in January and died in May of that year.
Charles’ daughter Molly Charles and her five siblings are hoping they, and their father via their efforts, can be part of the ongoing search for a lung cancer cure.
“We are participating in the Chicago Banco Popular Half Marathon activities on Sept. 14 and raising money for LUNGevity. We want to raise money to help prevent other families from going through what we have gone through,” said Molly Charles.
LUNGevity Foundation was founded by seven Chicago-area lung cancer survivors to increase funding for lung cancer research. The mission of LUNGevity Foundation is to save lives and to ease the burden of lung cancer on patients and their loved ones.
The Charles clan — Kellie, Jan, Brian, John, Molly and Megan — planned on raising $3,000 for the cause before the September deadline. The siblings have already raised more than $3,600, and donations are still rolling in.
Molly Charles said the idea to run came from a family friend amidst the grief of her loss.
“One of my good friends who I went to school with is into marathons and ran the full Chicago marathon last year in my father’s honor. That is how we got the idea to do this marathon,” she said.
The marathon is 13.1 miles long and participants have the option to walk, but the Charleses will have none — or just very little — of that. Molly Charles said the group of siblings, ranging in age from 23 to 45, is determined to run at least half the distance.
Kellie Charles, now living in Minnesota, said the training and preparation has been a good way to keep memories of her father alive and strengthen bonds between already-close siblings.
“At first I did not think I could do this, but I have started training and it has been really fun keeping up with my siblings and seeing everyone keeping up with the training,” she said. “The greatest gift my dad ever gave me was five siblings.”
Kellie Charles said their father gave them, as well as many others, many gifts and memories. In fact, the siblings compiled those memories into a book and presented it to Charles only months before he died.
Molly Charles said she hopes one of the lasting gifts her father will give is a contribution to finding a cure for cancer through the efforts of his children.
“We went through something really sad and terrible. Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer and you just feel so bad and so terrible when a loved one is going through this. If you can prevent someone else from going through this or help find a cure, you want to do that,” she said.
The Web site for those wishing to contribute is http://events.lungevity.org/goto/teamcharles.
jgoodwin@vindy.com