Butler's Joe Franklin Begins DVD Drive for IU Cancer Center

July 25, 2005

Indianapolis, Ind. - Butler cross country and track coach Joe Franklin is asking for the community's help in aiding cancer patients at the Indiana University Cancer Center in downtown Indianapolis. Franklin spent the summer of 2003 fighting Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at the center. With the help of Dr. Larry Cripe and the rest of the staff, Franklin beat the disease and returned to lead the Bulldogs to the 2004 NCAA Cross Country Championships and earned "National Coach of the Year" honors.

As a way of giving back to the Indiana University Cancer Center, Franklin orchestrated a unique fund-raising effort. Many of the patients that are fighting cancer have long and grueling stays in the hospital. Franklin's goal was to outfit every room in the center with a DVD/VCR unit to help make patients' daily fight a little more tolerable. That goal has been met.

Now, Franklin is hoping to supply a library of DVDs for patients to check out from the nurses' station at the center. With the goal of a library approaching 400 DVDs, donations of new or used DVDs are being sought. Those can be dropped off in the cross country and track office in Hinkle Fieldhouse (317-940-9921).

On behalf of coach Franklin and his student-athletes at Butler, thank you for your interest in helping improve the lives of cancer patients