‘Spirit of together’ Hobart grad Ron Blake inspires Jim Harbaugh to write to brother Mark Blake, who was diagnosed with cancer
Ron Blake felt helpless. When he learned of his younger brother Mark’s cancer diagnosis, he wanted to do something.
But the 1987 Hobart graduate lives in Phoenix. Mark lives in Valparaiso.
The pandemic has turned travel upside down. He couldn’t just jump on a plane and visit.
Ron, who coached the cross country teams at Hobart from 1995 to 2000, was stumped but determined.
He went for his brother’s soft spot — Michigan football — and drew on his coaching background for inspiration.
He sent a handwritten letter to Michigan coach
Jim Harbaugh, telling Harbaugh how much Mark loved the Wolverines and sharing a story about one of his most poignant memories from his last cross country team.
Before a meet on a sunsplashed October day at Lemon Lake Park in Crown Point in 2000, Ron told his team to stop and look around. To take stock of the moment. And to never forget it. There were 16 runners and coaches present.
He drew from his coaching bag of motivational tools. He was trying to inspire them for the meet.
Ron left for California after that season. His runners moved on with college and life. Two died, and he returned for the funerals.
He had wanted to write about that day in October 2000 for years.
His brother’s cancer diagnosis, he said, “gave me the kick in the butt I needed to get it done.”
Ron described that day, the last time the team was together, in detail and wrote, “We will always have that moment. It was perfect. Together forever.”
He told Harbaugh that Mark will need the “spirit of together” to overcome cancer, and he sent the story to 10 members of that team.
It was emotional for many of them, Ron said.
Harbaugh was moved, too, and sent a handwritten letter to Mark, saying he’d share the story at some point with his team. Harbaugh also said he would keep Mark in his thoughts and that the Wolverines were rooting for him.
Ron said he didn’t know what would happen after he sent the letter to Harbaugh.
“I didn’t expect him to call back or respond,” Ron said. “I just knew I couldn’t sit around and do nothing.”
Mark was moved by the letter Harbaugh sent. The Big Ten football season has been shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the message remains.
Mark needs everyone pulling for him.
Recently married, he is a grocery manager at Strack & Van Til in Chesterton, Ron said.
Mark was working 50hour weeks during the pandemic and thought it had caused extreme fatigue and a nagging pain in his stomach, Ron said.
That wasn’t the cause. He was diagnosed with lymphoma on April 15.
It’s a rough time for Mark and his wife, Laura. They can’t take visitors because of the risks posed by exposure to the coronavirus. People have dropped off food and other supplies on their porch.
Laura had blue “Blake Strong” bracelets made. She sent them to friends, many of whom have posted pictures on Facebook of themselves wearing the bracelets.
“It’s just tough,” Ron said.
“She (Laura) is the only person that can really be with him.”
Mark and Laura were supposed to have a big wedding in June, but the pandemic ruined those plans.
Mark just finished chemotherapy treatments, and next week he will have a PET scan to see whether the cancer is gone. Everyone is hopeful.
In an odd way, Mark’s cancer diagnosis gave Ron the opportunity to make a small difference.
As a coach, he spent his time creating practice plans and motivational themes to get his kids through the season. It always was a struggle but a welcome challenge.
That’s how he wants to help Mark.
Ron has his fingers crossed.
He wants to get more pictures with Mark. He wants to have a chance for a perfect moment with him again.
He wants them to be “together.”