Leathers brothers hang tough

   You’ve heard the saying “tough as leather,” but here’s a case that might more accurately be called “Tough as Leathers.”

   Life was going smoothly for the Leathers brothers, Chad, Ben and Drew, until five years ago when Drew, the youngest, was diagnosed with Schwannomatosis, a rare nerve disease that causes extreme pain due to tumors that grow around individual nerves, sometimes larger than a softball. So far Drew has had nine surgeries, including one in March 2006 to prevent paralysis. There is no cure for this disease. Heavy medication and surgery are the only options.

   But the Leathers brothers will not let this get them down. They started a campaign to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation for research to find a cure, so people like Drew may someday live pain free.

   “The boys were close in age and were always best buddies, “said their mother, Fran Cone, “but seeing Drew’s lot in life has made them so much closer and reinforced what we already knew was most important in life – support of family.”

   Ben wrote a song about Drew and Chad designed a Web site where the song plays in the background. The brothers call themselves Tumornators and designed black T-shirts with the slogan “So tumors won’t be back.” 

   Then the entire community drew together as family. The Gentry Shop and STA Shop donated the T-shirts. Arcado Elementary School raised $1425 for their cause. Various clubs at Parkview raised funds and teacher collected $830 with a Dress Down for Drew Day.

   “Grayson Elementary School circulated Drew’s story via e-mail and a teacher gave up Coke for Lent and contributed all the money to the Tumornators,” said Cone.

   Then a childhood friend, Taylor Brown, contacted Drew. Brown, age 22, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and was undergoing chemotherapy. She posted Drew’s site on her www.CaringBridge.com support site for people with serious illnesses. From this link, a recording studio booked the brothers to make a fund raising CD.

   And good things still keep happening. A story about the Leathers brothers will be airing on Fox 5's Good Day Atlanta on May 2nd. Ben is arranging a fundraising concert featuring Nate Nelson ( www.natenelsonmusic.com ) on May 8 at Tasty World in Athens. And on May 20, Chad will raise money for CTF in a half-iron triathlon in Orlando. 

   “It’s so appropriate,” said Cone, “because a triathlon is the celebration of the human spirit because you push yourself beyond what a human being can possibly do. It’s a perfect analogy for people with this disease.” 

   The Leathers brothers will hang tough and keep pushing themselves to ensure that someday these tumors won’t be back. (To contribute or get involved, please visit www.tumornators.com )

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