Story about Robby Gordon

[RobbyG Fan]

Nice story about Robby Gordon: Last August, 9-year-old Killian Owen lost his three-and-a-half-year struggle with leukemia. But in the gym of his east Cobb elementary school, a climbing wall on a giant mural of a phoenix - a legendary bird that rises from the ashes to live on - flying triumphantly over a mountain will keep the youngster's memory alive for generations of students to come. Dubbed "Killian's Climb," the wall and the mural were dedicated Tuesday in a ceremony that included heartfelt remarks by Killian's mother, Grainne Owen, who expressed her gratitude for the support her family received throughout her son's illness. Killian Owen was a month shy of his 6th birthday when he was diagnosed in December 1999 with the cancer that eventually took his life. In October 2002, a relapse put Killian back in the hospital and introduced him to a new hero, NASCAR driver Robby Gordon, who drives the #31 Cingular Wireless car. Owen, who lives with his family in the east Cobb subdivision of Johnson's Landing and works for the Atlanta-based Cingular, asked Gordon one day if he would mind dropping by the hospital to say hello to his son. "He came over that day and we couldn't get him to go away. He visited every room on the cancer ward," Owen recalled. Gordon, who was a special guest at Tuesday's dedication ceremony, came back many times to see Killian. "We'd play games, like Dragonstrike, anything to cheer him up and make him smile," Gordon said. "Every time I was in town, I'd go see him for three or four hours." When the child was out of the hospital, Gordon made sure Killian and his family attended races in which Gordon was competing or that they were with him when he made special appearances in the community. "Killian didn't know much about racing before he met Robbie, but he became a huge fan," Mrs. Owen said. For Gordon, Killian's illness and eventual death was a reality check. "I had a friend whose daughter had cancer, but she survived," he said. "I live in such a fantasy world that (losing Killian) really makes my life more real." Gordon is very special to the Owen family, "not because of how famous he is or how exciting his job is, but because he's a kind, generous person who made a great difference in our lives, and Killian loved him," Mrs. Owen said.(see full story and photo at the Marietta Daily Journal)(2-18-2004)

 

[97forever]

A very touching story. A salute to Robby. A true class act.

 

[bowtie]

Cool story, you don't get to see those very often. You know drivers do that alot of times and nobody hears about it.

 

[TonyB]

Most of these guys realize they are in a position that few of us are in and they do all sorts of things that we never hear about...

 

[nascarfan48]

Excellent story cheer Robby

 

[Tommy29]

Robby is a good dude. Thats awesome he would stay for so long and hang out with other patients too. Good Guy.

 

[esorlxaw]

That's why I'm a fan...my girlfriend's dad made a comment about driving around with his #24 go kart on his truck's trailer, he said something to the effect of, "When a little kid sees you drive down the road with a go-kart on the back of your truck, they automatically think that not only are you a driver, but that you're famous." While this is true, just imagine the impact of a nationally televised driver showing up anywhere that people need something good to think about...three cheers to any driver who takes some time out of their schedule to interact and connect with the people who cheer them on each week. Go #31/55, Go America!