Kingwood boy honors friend by collecting medals

KINGWOOD, TX -- Every medal tells a story.

Whether they are painted bright colors, weigh two pounds or even have glitter embellishments; they oftentimes stand as a symbol of an accomplishment.

For 11-year-old Talon Balcom of Kingwood, these medals told a different story that he wanted to share with others.

Talon's uncle, Greg, recently participated in the Ultra 55 Snowdrop Race which is a 55 hour run which symbolizes the 55 beds for pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children's Hospital Cancer ward.

"I couldn't imagine being able to run for 55 hours," Talon said. "My uncle and his friends are running in the Ultra 55 Snowdrop Race and because it is so long, they will take turns running in the race."

Greg shared information with Talon about a nonprofit organization called Bling for Bravery where the medals earned by runners, swimmers and bikers, just to name a few, are re-purposed with fancier ribbons and given to cancer patients after they have chemotherapy treatments.

Read more from The Kingwood Observer, a Houston Community Newspaper partner