EDMOND — As the weeks of fundraising come to a close, one recipient of Edmond North High School’s BALTO Week is sharing his story.

The majority of the $282,145 raised from this year’s annual fundraiser will go to the Sooner Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In its early years, BALTO leaders chose an individual each year as the recipient.

Robert Hanson, a former North student and 2009 Oklahoma Christian School graduate, was chosen to be the recipient of BALTO week when he was in the fourth grade.

At 9, Hanson was diagnosed with undifferentiated sarcoma in his neck.

At the time Robert and his twin brother, Ryan, were third-graders at John Ross Elementary School in Edmond. Now, both young men are 21 are enrolled at Oklahoma State University where Robert is listed on the President’s Honor Roll.

“Robert was not supposed to reach age 21,” said his mother, Ramona Hanson.

“His trapezius muscle in his neck was removed, and he spent a year and three months going to M.D. Anderson in Houston for treatment.”



‘Light at the end of the tunnel’

Robert said when he first found out he was to be on the receiving end of the fundraising at North High School he wasn’t sure what BALTO meant.

“My only thought was how grateful I was that my family would be receiving help,” Robert said. “It was the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Robert said he received around $55,000 from BALTO and $8,000 from his elementary school, John Ross.

“I look back on it with so much appreciation,” Robert said. “Also, I was nominated by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and they gave my family a trip to Disney World, which was the time of my life!”

Robert said he believes it is very important for students to be involved with the weeks of fundraising at their schools.

“It is not only because they are developing a generous, non-self-centered way of life,” Robert said, “but they are helping others to get through very hard times.”

Robert added without the caring and determined students wanting to help others by raising funds for BALTO, he might not have been so fortunate to be where he is today.

“I owe my life to those students who helped me, and I would love to go back and thank all of them for what they did,” Robert said. “Their determination and hard work went a very long way to help my entire family in a time of need.”

Robert said his twin brother, Ryan, and father, David, actually shaved their heads after his hair fell out from the chemotherapy treatments.

“My brother was a huge influence on me during that time. He and my dad wanted me to feel better about the whole thing,” Robert said. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”

When Robert was 10 years old he was told he was cancer free, but he and his family had to wait another seven years with him being cancer free to know for certain the cancer was gone.

“After the seven-year mark, my cancer was unlikely to come back,” Robert said.

“My biggest fear is of some type of secondary cancer caused by the side effects from chemotherapy and radiation treatment that may affect me negatively in the long run.”

Robert said being sick as a child definitely helped him set goals as an adult.

“The goals I set for myself today are mostly correlated to my experiences with cancer,” he said.

“The disease put me in a state that I never want to see myself in again. The only way I can be sure that I will not get sick again is by leading a completely healthy lifestyle.

“To do this, I make sure I surround myself with good and wholesome people so that I can be influenced in the right direction. I also enjoy influencing others in the right direction.

He said another lifestyle goal that he developed through his experience is to remain healthy and active.

“I consistently work out and eat very healthy,” Robert said.

Robert said his illness has allowed him to realize he would like to help others to lead healthy lifestyles as well.

“I am now a health promotions major at Oklahoma State University and plan to go to a post-graduate school in order to become a physical therapist,” Robert said.



‘The time of my life’

Last summer Robert and his girlfriend, Lynne, decided to go together to work for the YMCA as camp counselors.

Robert worked as a camp counselor in charge of fourth-graders at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo., for the summer.  

“This was my first summer to work with young people,” Robert said. “The most interesting thing was that my kids were the age I was when I had cancer.

Robert said it was the greatest summer of his life.

“I was surrounded by great people from around the world as well as God’s beautiful mountains,” Robert said.

“More than being a counselor and leader to my fourth-grade campers, I loved learning so much about them and what they had to teach me.

“While in Colorado, I had the opportunity to hike several mountains, including Estes Park’s largest mountain, Longs Peak, which is classified as a ‘fourteener.’ It was the time of my life.”

Robert said he would love to share his experiences as a cancer patient with others and help them to make the most of their situations with good spirit and lots of hope.

“I believe half the battle is fought from within, the other half is fought with doctors and medicine,” Robert said.

More information about BALTO may be found at www.baltoweek.org.



pmiller@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 171