NOMINATION ESSAY

Below is the text of the essay that Paul O'Rear submitted, nominating his daughter Ashley to be an Olympic Torchbearer.


Ashley is my daughter. At age 9 she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She underwent brain surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy for 1-1/2 years. Today she is 14 and a survivor. The story of her courageous battle with cancer and her determination to beat this disease, has inspired countless people who followed her story via the Internet, some of whom were engaged in their own cancer battle. She still struggles with some residual side effects of the treatments, but she continues to face her struggles with courage and determination.


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