Leukemia survivor Matt Jones, an Emporia State University graduate, will be signing books at the Town Crier on Wednesday and speaking to community groups in the area throughout the week.
Jones is the author of “Going Through Hell? Don’t Stop!” an inspirational book that draws on what he learned during his illness. He has recently completed the rough draft of a second book called “Life’s a Marathon: 26.2 Winning Strategies for The Race of Life.”
An exuberant personality, Jones shows few signs of the illness that once defined so much of his life. But every so often, there are little reminders — such as the round of immunizations he had to have recently.
“Since the bone marrow treatment wipes out your immune system, I just recently got my childhood shots all over again,” Jones said, chuckling.
Since having that bone marrow transplant three years ago, Jones has reinvented himself as an author and motivational speaker. He also took the time to run a marathon himself in San Diego for a leukemia/lymphoma fund raiser.
“I think you have to be a little crazy to do it ,” he said. “But I wanted to tell myself ‘I’m healthy again,’ and that’s one of the ultimate endurance feats. I heard somewhere that one-tenth of one percent of the world’s population has completed a marathon.”
He trained, finished -- then celebrated with a burger and fries.
“You have to celebrate life,” Jones said. “That’s one of the most important lessons I learned.”
Jones will be at the Town Crier from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, first speaking for 20 minutes and then signing copies of his book. On Sunday, he will also speak at the Social Service Club, Fourth Avenue and Merchant Street, on changing your life by changing your thoughts. The presentation is sponsored by the Unity Center of Emporia and will begin at 5 p.m. There is no charge.
Starting Wednesday and continuing through next week, Jones will also speak to both Emporia Rotary Clubs, the Council Grove Rotary Club, the Optimists Club, Sertoma and the Lions Club. At 3 p.m. Saturday, Jones will also speak to fourth- through sixth-graders at Swope Park in Cottonwood Falls on alcohol awareness.