Connie Payton continues to raise funds and awareness for cancer research, nearly three years after the death of her husband, Hall of Fame Bears running back Walter Payton.
Her latest charity project is an upcoming book entitled “Stronger Than Cancer.”
“It’s another way to commemorate and honor Walter’s memory,” she said. “That whole cancer fight and battle . . . there hardly are any words to describe how hard it is on a family. If we can do one thing to help another family, to inspire that family to give them some hope and keep fighting . . . then this [book] will be an honor.”
Walter Payton died Nov. 1, 1999, at 45 after a long battle with liver cancer. Connie immediately took on the daunting mission of assisting cancer charities.
“This has been so therapeutic and I am so thankful I had the foundation to put my energy in,” she said. “I truly believe that is why we are put on earth.
“I never thought I would be out in the forefront of [this]. But I have been given this opportunity to make a difference . . . [on things such as] the importance of organ donations.”
This just in: Tim Whiting, the attorney who filed the lawsuit for Elizabeth Hahn, has retained the services of powerhouse law firm Jenner & Block as co-counsel against the NHL, Blackhawks and the United Center.
Hahn is the woman who was injured seriously when a puck struck her in the head at a Blackhawks game last January.
Thus far the three defendants have dismissed the attempts to settle the case.
“We’ve reviewed the facts and law regarding the Hahn case and look forward to the opportunity to prove this case at trial,” said Chaka Patterson, an attorney at Jenner & Block.
Worth reading: Longtime Detroit Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell, who is retiring after this season, tells some fascinating tales in his new book–“Ernie Harwell: My 60 Years in Baseball”–written with New York Post baseball columnist Tom Keegan.
Pass the word: The third annual “Ricky Byrdsong Race Against Hate” is scheduled for 8 a.m. June 29 from Northwestern University’s Long Field at the corner of Sheridan Road and Lincoln Avenue in Evanston. . . . Dave and Neta Jackson, who have written a new book called “No Random Act: Behind the Murder of Ricky Byrdsong,” will lead a discussion and sign books at the Evanston Barnes & Noble on Sherman Avenue at 7 p.m. Thursday. . . . CART driver Dario Franchitti, current CART FedEx Championship Series points leader, appeared at a Chicago firehouse at the corner of Illinois and Dearborn to give away tickets Thursday for the June 30 Grand Prix of Chicago to uniformed personnel. Numerous firefighters serve on Safety Teams at CART races.
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fmitchell@tribune.com
