Three Dads Who Met at St Jude’s Become Ironmen Together

Three dads who met at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital while their kids were in treatment have become brothers in arms. Tim Sparer, Chris Corbett, and Chris Frunzi have experienced the worst of times and endured them by leaning on each other as their children fight cancer. The trio have comforted and advised and encouraged each other for years.

Sierra Sparer was diagnosed with medulloblastoma just before her 16th birthday and is back in treatment for recurrent tumors while continuing her studies at Georgia Tech. Calvin Corbett, a quick-witted child with a love of Nebraska football, is in treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue. Jackson Frunzi was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and, later, acute myeloid leukemia. Bennett, Jackson’s brother, passed away last year. He was treated at St. Jude for medulloblastoma.

On the first Saturday of October, these dads tested themselves by competing in the St. Jude IRONMAN 70.3 in Memphis. Frunzi said “Most of us won’t ever train for a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run. Then again, most of us will never hear those four devastating words: Your child has cancer. This triathlon is nothing compared to what Jackson has been through and it’s a good way to honor Bennett and his fight and what he went through.”

The three fathers crossed the finish line the same way they traveled their St. Jude journeys — together, in honor of their kids. With a bond built around their kids, having met in the direst of circumstances, they have found strength and comfort in each other. They are thankful they have each other while their journeys continue as their kids remain in treatment, learn to navigate potential lifelong health issues and return visits to St. Jude for regular check-ups.