TrackDad of Elite Sprinter Lauryn Williams, “I Just Want To Be There For My Daughter”

I can’t imagine not being there for  my Lauren’s shinning moments especially if it was the Ultimate Olympic Moment.Thus far, Henry and I have shared ever big track moment  with Lauren and we are hoping to have many more. Here’s a story reported on WTAE.TV on Lauryn Williams’ Dad ,David Williams and his fight to get to Beijing even with need of dialysis and failing health.

ROCHESTER, Pa. — Lauryn Williams won an Olympic silver medal in Athens — and now, she’s going for gold in Beijing.

 The young Beaver County native’s father, David, wants to be there so he can cheer his daughter on, but that may not be possible because he requires expensive kidney dialysis treatments.

 ”I’m a Vietnam veteran, and I have leukemia from that, so I had kidney failure eight years ago,” David Williams told Channel 4 Action Sports anchor Jon Burton. “I’ve been on dialysis. I need a kidney. All of this compounds the difficulty of getting back and forth.”

After a legendary track career at Rochester High School, Lauryn Williams moved on to the University of Miami. Now, she spends her days in the hot South Florida sun, training for the upcoming Summer Games in China. Many consider her to be a favorite for gold. “He’s pretty die-hard. He’s planning on being in Beijing,” Lauryn Williams told WTAE’s sister station in Miami. “I’m trying to convince him slowly but surely to stay home, and let’s play it safe than sorry, as opposed to how it played out in Greece, but he’s not going to have it. I think he’d rather see me and drop dead in the process than miss it, so if his life depends on it, he’s going to be there.”  David Williams is trying to make arrangements to have his dialysis done at the University of Beijing during the Games in August. But his funds are limited, and he’s not sure he’ll be able to afford to watch his daughter go for the gold.

End Time Ministries has set up a fundraiser for tax-deductible donations to help pay for Williams’ medical care while in China. Checks can be sent to P.O. Box 54, Rochester, Pa. 15074.

Related posts:

1. Lauryn Williams and Lauren Rain Williams
2. Vote For Lauryn Williams… The Jefferson Award
3. TrackMom Exclusive… Lauryn Williams Talks “Youth Track”
4. Track Gear From The Pro’s, Jeremy Wariner,Sanya Richards,Lauryn Williams And More
5. TrackMom Exclusive Part 2 Lauryn Willams On Youth Track