Thursday, March 26, 2009

Relay for Life

PS - please feel free to post your stories of friends and family that are or have battled cancer and I will get the info to Laura to make sure a light is lit in their honor during the event - thank you
Hello everyone- As many of you know, my baby brother has just BEAT cancer! It is a miracle and we are so grateful! While he personally will not be participating in Relay for Life this year, his girlfriend will be and he has asked that anyone interested in supporting him, donate to support her instead. Even if we all just donate $5, together we can make a BIG difference!

I am so very grateful for the medical advances that allowed my brother to not only have SURVIVED cancer, but to now be 100% cancer free! I can't imagine what life would be like if we had lost him and know that someone else's donations helped make his survival a reality! Below is the letter written by his girlfriend Laura Fischer, a fellow cancer survivor and one of the angels that helped him through this all, along with a link to her Relay For Life page-
Thank you for looking.

With love,
Bree
--- A message from Laura Fischer
Dear Family and Friends,

I hope this letter finds you well. The past year of my life has been eventful to say the least. I started my freshman year of college at Winona State University this fall, and I am on my way to achieving my goal of becoming a pediatric oncology nurse. But starting college was only one part of my life changing year. As you may know, my boyfriend, Brent, was diagnosed with choriocarcinoma in January of last year. He bravely endured four rounds of chemotherapy and a highly invasive surgery, and is now cancer free! Watching Brent bravely fight cancer this past year has taught me so much about courage, positivity, and the importance of loving and supportive family and friends. It has also lit an even greater fire in my heart to see cancer cured in my lifetime. Cancer has affected too many people I know and love. I have watched both my Grandparents, my Aunt Jan, and many friends bravely fight cancer. Unfortunately, cancer will continue to affect people we all know and love. That is why I am asking you to help me continue the fight against cancer.
On April 24 and 25th, I will be participating in the American Cancer Society's signature fundraiser, Relay for Life at Winona State University. I am actively involved in the American Cancer Society's Colleges Against Cancer chapter here on campus, and I am very excited about the upcoming event. I have greatly enjoyed my experiences with Relay for Life in the past and I have great expectations for this year. I am so thankful for the generous support you have shown for my efforts in the past, and I am graciously asking for a tax deductible donation once again. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated. All donations support the American Cancer Society's efforts in funding life saving cancer research, cancer education, early detection and prevention programs, and patient support programs. To make a tax deductible donation to my team, please follow the link to my Relay for Life homepage at the bottom of this email.
Finally I ask you to please reply to this email by sending me the names of all the people you know who have been affected by cancer. Please indicate whether they are still fighting, a survivor, or have lost their courageous battle. I will make sure that there is a luminaria in their honor on the night of relay. If you would like, you may also send a message you would like to have printed on their luminaria.
Thank you so much for your continued support! We will find a cure for cancer! :)

Sincerely,
Laura :)

Click here to visit my personal page.If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09MW?px=8753435&pg=personal&fr_id=15885&fl=en_US&s_tafId=273405

Click here to view the team page for Standing Up to Cancer If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09MW?team_id=371094&pg=team&fr_id=15885&fl=en_US&s_tafId=273405




A Note About Laura and Relay for Life - As written by my father:

The following (preceeding) email is from a young lady who was a tremendous support for Brent as he went through his Cancer treatments.

In addition to being an excellent student she has spent many hours raising money and awareness for Cancer including visiting our Congressman and two Senators in Washington DC explaining the need for Cancer Research Funding. Cancer research is the reason she and Brent are both alive today.

Please visit her website and make a donation if you can.

Thanks, Craig

1 comment:

"The Landlord" said...

From my sister-in-law"
Hi Everyone-
...my daughter Melissa's soccer coach, favorite mentor in the whole world - and a dear family friend to all of us - is battling bone cancer right now. He is only 35 - he is married to a great lady, has a little boy who is 2, and a baby soon to be born this month! He is extremely ill...but continues to battle bravely...and we are confident that with many prayers, and donations to great fundraisers such as this one, that he too will beat this terrible disease...and be happy and healthy just like Brent! Please keep him too in your thoughts...and be generous...
Thanks!

-When I told her how horrified I was, she said:

He can use all the prayers he can get. He is in his 5th of 7 rounds of chemo...but is extremely sick for 2-3 weeks after each treatment (we realize even more how lucky Brent was...he didn't feel sick most of the time!) and needs platelets and transfusions each time. He had one of his kidney's removed with a big tumor...and it hasn't spread...but the treatment is almost unbearable. ...

I figure if I can find more friends for him...and more prayers...that's the best help I can offer him right now!

-Thanks D!