He arrived in California yesterday for a practice round, and will tee off with the celebrities in front of 250 spectators, along with camera crews and journalists, tomorrow. His final round and his score will be televised on June 15 as part of the lead-in to the U.S. Open coverage. The special will feature clips from the 18 holes of golf. John vows to break 100 on the tough course, with a goal of shooting an 89.

You can still sign up to sponsor John as part of his U.S. Open adventure, with funds going to lung cancer research and awareness. He is encouraging people to agree to double their pledge if he makes his goal of breaking 100. Find a sponsor form at the Lung Cancer Alliance web site. GO JOHN!

SOURCE: myMeso › Quick update on Atkinson

Today there was a great article in the Detroit Free Press about Atkinson. The article states that Atkinson considers his “Achilles heel” in the competition to be the fact that he’s never played the tough Torrey Pines U.S. Open course, not that he has lung cancer. The avid golfer was on the links shortly after his diagnosis (he shot a 78) and walked the course after completing four rounds of chemotherapy. His goal for the celebrity tournament is to break 100.

You can also keep an eye out for Atkinson on NBC Nightly News tomorrow, June 5. He is scheduled to appear, barring any unexpected national events that bump him from the slot.

Atkinson will be teamed with celebrities Justin Timberlake, NBC Today Show anchor Matt Lauer, and Dallas Cowboy star Tony Romo in the tournment, which will be aired on NBC Sports at 2 p.m. ET June 15.

How wonderful that Atkinson has this chance in the spotlight to talk about lung cancer, and to promote efforts to increase funding for research and to raise awareness. He also is an official spokesman for the Lung Cancer Alliance.

SOURCE: myMeso › Atkinson in the news again

John Atkinson talks about U.S. Open plans with ESPN2.

Atkinson will play the tough Torrey Pines course in San Diego. While on the radio program, John shares the story of his diagnosis and battle with lung cancer, and his plans to break 100 in the tournament.

John is a spokesperson for the Lung Cancer Alliance. Visit their web site to download a sponsor form, and consider hosting a party on the day of the celebrity tournament. John is encouraging donors to vow to double their pledge if he breaks 100.

Let’s get behind this remarkable man, who has a unique opportunity to share the message of the importance of lung cancer research and funding. NBC Sports will broadcast the celebrity event from 2-3 p.m. ET.

SOURCE: myMeso › Atkinson talks to ESPN2 about U.S. Open

Atkinson was selected from more than 56,000 entries, voted on by the magazine’s readers. Never a smoker, he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer a little more than a year ago at age 38. He hopes to use the golf event as an opportunity to raise awareness for lung cancer funding and research.

In a press release from the Lung Cancer Alliance, which urged its members and supporters to vote for Atkinson, he is quoted as saying, “The game of golf to me is living. I am going out there to enjoy the golf course, to play a great round and to give hope to those who are faced with life threatening illnesses. If I can beat America’s deadliest cancer, then I can definitely break 100 [at Torrey Pines]. It’s going to be a great day, an emotional day, and I can’t wait.”

Lung cancer is the nation’s leading cancer killer, taking more lives than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined.

To enter the contest, Atkinson submitted a 100-word essay describing why he could break 100 at Torrey Pines. Once being chosen as a finalist, he received more than 48,000 of the 117,000 votes cast in the first U.S. Open Contest, conducted by Golf Digest, the United States Golf Association, and NBC Sports. You can watch a video interview with Atkinson and read other features about the foursome at Golf Digest online.

SOURCE: myMeso › Lung cancer survivor to play on U.S. Open course