A Story on Commitment beyond Athletics


This story is about COMMITMENT and a college student who made a decision to donate his bone marrow to save the life of another human being he did not know. 

Cameron Lyle was a senior and star on the University of New Hampshire Track & Field Team at the time. The story actually first took roots in 2010 when he decided to register with the National Marrow Donor Program. They told him that his chance of being typed as a donor for someone who wasn't a family member was one in 5-million.

Fast forward to March, 2013. That same program now contacted Cameron to inform him that his marrow had been matched with a 28-year-old man who was suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. They asked if he would donate his bone marrow immediately not knowing of his academic or athletic commitments?

What caught my attention for this piece was that Cameron stayed true to his Commitment even though he had to totally walk away from the last two track meets remaining on the UNH schedule and the chance to close out his collegiate career by competing in the American East Conference Championships.

He courageously made the decision to aid humanity and began a period of research and consultation on his bone marrow procedure. He was told by doctors that if he went forward, he would be too depleted to raise even a bowl above his head for weeks, much less throw a discus, the hammer or the shot put at a track meet following the procedure.

It was a decision he calls a “no brainer!” "When they first told me, I was like, 'OK, cool. I'm definitely going to do it,'" Cameron said. "After that I went to tell my coach and then I realized slowly that my season was going to be over? I thought it's just a sport. Just because it's Division I college level doesn't make it any more important? Life is a lot more important than that, so it was a pretty easy decision."

“I did think about what I was giving up,” he continued. “But then I discovered that the marrow recipient had a fiancé, a 19-month-old son and just six months to live and I have the possibility to buy him a couple more years?”

"I am beyond words proud. He is my hero," said Cameron’s mother (Chris) of her son. "When your children inspire you to be better people, you know it's come full circle and he's inspired his mom to be a better circle."

I originally wrote this piece for the 100s of athletes I continually help mentor on a yearly basis to show them ways how others are making a difference away from their sport and how each has the ability to raise the bar in their own local communities. 

Jim Loria


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES RELATING TO THIS STORY 

“Sooner or later, something seems to call us onto a particular path – this is what I must do, this is who I am” – stated by James Hillman, American psychologist

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“I can give you a six-word formula for success: ‘Think things through, then follow through’” – stated by Captain Edward V. Rickenbacker, an American fighter ace in World War I, race car driver and pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.

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“Four short words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals above the crowd: A LITTLE BIT MORE. They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more” – stated by A. Lou Vickery, Author

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“The content of your character is your choice. Day-by-day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become” – stated by an Unknown Author


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