Bo Johnson inspired the Door County community and tens of thousands more beyond its borders when he took courage to a new level last fall.
We’re proud to announce that the foundation named in his memory is now the official charity partner of the Peninsula Century.
Last August, 13 year-old Bo Johnson began his long journey home. His doctors at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee told him there was nothing more they could do for him, that he would die from the acute myeloid leukemia that ravaged his body.
Rather than stay in the hospital, Bo made the brave decision to come home to Sister Bay to spend his final days watching the sunsets he loved and spending time with the friends and family who had supported him through his year-long battle.
He attended high school football games, went to the beach, and welcomed friends into his home. And even in his weakened condition, Bo reached out. He asked to speak to his school, and he got on stage to deliver a message to his classmates. Be good to one another, be kind, especially to the weakest among you, he told them.
In his year of debilitating treatemnt, hundreds of people had reached out to him. In an interview with the Peninsula Pulse shortly after returning home, he talked of wanting to beat his cancer if only to pay that kindness forward.
“I would just like to go to the hospital, even to [Scandia Village] just to help,” he said. “Or take a spare $25 that would help a family up at the HOT [Hematology, Oncology, and Transplant] unit. Donate food to the nurses. Just to help anyone I could in that kind of way.”
The Go Bo Foundation now works to do just that, its mission statement reads as follows:
You can help support the Go Bo Foundation by raising $250 for for the fund in this year’s Peninsula Century. When you do, you’ll get a free registration to the ride. To obtain a pledge sheet contact Mary Knutson at maryj.knutson@gmail.com.
Help us carry on Bo’s message, and Bike for Bo.
