For most people, everyday life can take many different forms. Some days it’s exciting; others terrifying, dull, hectic, depressing, or sublimely gratifying. One thing nearly everyone can agree on is that life, whatever mood it seems to be taking with us, is rarely fair; and few among us are as qualified to speak to that as Connor Goodwin.

Some of you may remember reading about Connor back in the September/October 2006 issue of this magazine. In 2003, at the tender age of 22 months—an extremely formative age in any child’s development—Connor was diagnosed with leukemia. His mother, Lisa, looked to the news as a “death sentence.” That’s not an unreasonable reaction, considering the mortality rate of children diagnosed with the disease is 20%. No parent likes those odds. But what the world didn’t know then was that Connor, a toddler at the time, would eventually accomplish something millions of people every year are unable to do. He would beat cancer, first in his own body, and then he’d help others do the same. But to do that, he was going to need more than help. He’d need heroes.

The next three years would be a grueling test of will for Connor, his family, and the medical team at VCU Medical Center. The constant treatments and the physical after effects bore a physical and emotional strain no loving family should have to endure, let alone an innocent child. But endure they did, and Connor, age eight, is cancer-free and well along in his crusade to put this cruel, petty disease out of business for good.

Connor Goodwin is truly a remarkable young man. It’s not often one would use “young man” to describe a boy of eight, but it’s not often one encounters a boy like him. He’s a perfectly normal everyday kid, to be sure, but his unflappable confidence and articulate nature belie his age immensely. Cheating death tends to have that effect, and it’s this confidence and poise that motivate him toward his ultimate goal: “I want to knock cancer out… permanently,” he says with conviction. This isn’t a simple wish, mind you. He has an actual plan to achieve this. “I want to be a scientist,” says Connor, not only so he can help find a cure for cancer (assuming they don’t already find one by then), but because “they get to work in a lab and do cool stuff.” He’s been fast at work already in a “lab” of his own (read: mom’s kitchen). “I made this one drink out of water, Capri Sun, lemonade, salt, pepper, mac and cheese, ketchup… I took one look and said ‘I am NOT drinking that.’” But hey, Thomas Edison broke a lot of glass before getting it right.

Apart from his search for a condiment-based treatment (to boredom, anyway), Connor and his family currently oversee Connor’s Heroes, a charity founded in 2006 that’s dedicated to building “a community of heroes to ease the burden of childhood cancer today and to help find a cure for tomorrow.” These “heroes” include not only medical professionals, but volunteers and vendors able to give time and money towards helping these children and their families. The organization holds 10-12 fundraisers annually, and to date has raised over $500K, with another $300K being directed into other pediatric cancer funds.

“Running Connor’s Heroes is a full-time job for me now,” says Lisa Goodwin, an attorney who admits she still “dabbles” in the law. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operation, Lisa and her husband, Steve (also an attorney), are working toward the growth of Connor’s Heroes, such as pursuing a potential partnership with the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, VA.

Lisa’s everyday involvement with the organization is of great value to the families she helps. Her experience and advice provide something of a stabilizing force for those tumbling in the wake of a pediatric cancer diagnosis. “The one thing I try to tell people is to accept any help that’s offered. If a friend or family member offers to mow your lawn, cook you dinner, pick your other kids up at school—take them up on it. It’s amazing how much of a difference that sort of help can make.” To that end, Connor’s Heroes assists families and patients through their Heroes Bags and Backpacks program, which provides tote bags and backpacks filled with various creature comforts to make those days and nights in the hospital a little easier.

Connor’s commitment to the organization is equally inspiring. When giving advice to kids fighting cancer themselves, he adheres to the tenets of endurance, positive thinking and, most of all, limiting stress as much as possible. “I tell kids not to worry about what might happen. That’s only going to lead to more stress,” he says. Instead, focus on the things you like, the good things going on in your life.” More than that, Connor hopes to motivate others to act. “Hopefully people will be inspired to go out and volunteer somewhere.”

Beating cancer is now Connor’s lifelong dedication. Eliminating it from his body was merely his validating moment that told him it was possible. Eliminating it from the planet is where his sights are now set. “Cancer deserves to go away after taking so many people’s friends and families. If it’s still around when I’m older, I’m knocking it out.” He truly believes it’s going to happen, one way or another. And why shouldn’t he? Life threw him the nastiest curveball imaginable, a 12-6 breaker that starts at the eyes and ends up at the ankles. Connor turned on it, and sent that pitch screaming into the center field bleachers. Moments like that make you walk a lot taller, and as Connor trots the bases with his head held high, the rest of us marvel at his accomplishment, eagerly awaiting his next big hit.

Volunteer or Donate:
Connor’s Heroes is excited to announce its newest program called “Superheroes and SidekicksTM.” Community volunteers who are looking for a meaningful opportunity to mentor others will be connected with childhood cancer patients, their siblings, and/or their parents.

Support Upcoming Events:
July 25: Connor’s Heroes presents Music for Massey featuring Chris Isaak with special guests Marc Broussard and The Waybacks at the Innsbrook Pavilion. Tickets will be on sale soon at www.ticketstobuy.com.first
August 15: Connor’s Heroes Day at the Flying Squirrels. The first 2000 kids will receive a Connor’s Heroes metal lunchbox.
September 26: First Annual Family Music Fest. Come listen to great music, enjoy Kid Zone festivities, a Heroes Parade and more.
For for information, visit www.connorsheroes.org.