Being only 26, Nick is always willing to help everyone and be emotionally supportive. During this very hard time, I hope that people will rally around him and be supportive like he has always been for others. Although he has been through a lot, he is maintaining a very positive attitude.

The detection of this serious illness has been a major setback, being a young man trying to find his way in life. Nick has always dreamed of having a family, this tragic news has not dampened his resolve to peruse his dreams. His employer provides Health insurance, but because of the high costs of his treatments, a large percent of his medical bills will go uncovered. I only hope the financial burden does not keep him from his goal of recovery.

He needs to cure this disease and your thoughts and prayers could help Nick achieve this goal.

My dad was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma, a type of cancer involving cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment and although his cancer is not curable, it is treatable. We hope that the chemotherapy will put the cancer into remission and give him many more years with us.

Steve before and during chemotherapy

My Dad is a retired real estate broker. He owned his own company and worked up to 80 hours a week to support our family when I was growing up. He retired several years ago before the market crashed and planned to live off of his real estate investments. As we all know, this is no longer the viable source of income it use to be.

My Dad currently has health insurance but he has a staggering amount of out-of-pocket expenses not covered by his provider. To make matters worse, his health insurance company is going out of business. This means he will need to get new health insurance with a pre-existing condition. You can imagine what a financial hurdle this will present.

It hurts my heart to know that not only does my Dad have to deal with being sick but he is also losing everything I watched him work my whole life for. Regardless, somehow he still manages to stay positive. He told me that “the magnificent thing about cancer is the way it brings people together.” He feels blessed to have friends and family that love and support him throughout this challenging process.

Please join me in coming together to show continued love and support for my Dad. I have heard this helps the recovery process immensely and I need him around to walk me down the aisle one day. He has always been there for me and this is my way of being there for him.

Thank You,
Brittany

Spartan Boot Camps anticipates the event will be well attended by both participants and donors to enable the Foundation to provide temporary and vital funds for friends encountering financial hardship as the result of breast cancer or sudden sickness. Spartan Boot Camps hosts monthly philanthropic events and may be contacted directly at spartanbootcamps@gmail.com for beneficiary nominations.

Also in attendance will be Tracy Rish, Founder of this month’s charity arm. Rish, a local entrepreneur and community activist, funded Hope for Friends after she had a dear friend suddenly diagnosed with breast cancer. She states, “I witnessed my friend, who is a private, strong woman feel so alone.” In reaching out to support her friend, Rish says that she recognized her own blessings more clearly than ever. In her heart she heard the words: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Shortly after, Hope for Friends was born.

Who: Participation is open to the public. All levels of fitness are encouraged to participate.

What: Fitness Fundraiser for breast cancer survivors.

Where: Athletic Republic Scottsdale located at Bell Road and the Loop 101.

When: Saturday, June 26, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Cost: There is no cost to participate but donations of all levels are strongly encouraged.

About Spartan Boot Camps
Based out of Phoenix, Ariz., Spartan Boot Camps offers a unique, cutting-edge approach to fitness. The workouts are designed based on the results of multiple peer-reviewed studies on the extensive benefits of interval training. Outdoor, group sessions are 60 minutes long and lead by a nationally Certified Personal Trainer. Classes appeal to all levels and movements may be modified as needed. For more information on Spartan Boot Camps, please visit www.spartanbootcamps.com or call (480) 330-0805.

Unfortunately Deb also received the unsettling news that her lumpectomy was not successful and a double mastectomy was preformed suddenly. She had surgery on Thursday, April 29 and amazingly was out of the hospital and in bed recovering by Saturday, May 1. Although her shoulders were in great discomfort after the surgery, Deb did not feel much pain from the surgery site during her initial recovery.

Deb was told that although her mastectomy was a success, the cancer had already spread to 5 lymph nodes meaning she will need more treatment. Deb found an oncologist and a surgeon in Daytona Beach that she really likes and she will be receiving most of her chemotherapy treatments there. She was supposed to start her treatments before the end of June but her tissue has not healed enough yet so now she is scheduled to start chemo next week after she has a port inserted on the 11.

Despite Deb’s consistently positive attitude, there are days where things go downhill emotionally and she is overwhelmed by the tragedy her body has been through. Deb relies on the support of her amazing family and the Hope 4 Friends Foundation to get through these difficult times.

While she was in Zion with Dr. Shah, he said she had “one of the strongest hearts he’d ever seen.” Please help us keep Deb’s heart strong and submit your donation here.

Thank you and God bless,

Hope 4 Friends
www.hope4friends.org

Her husband’s income is really sporadic in this economy and the rest of her family lives far away.  But it’s the medical bills that hurt the most.

Despite this, she maintains a positive attitude and feels blessed that she only needs to travel 30 miles from where she lives for her procedure. Her sister says, “If you ever need a dose of positive thinking, I’ll write you a prescription to spend some time with her.”

When you feel like throwing in the towel, my cousin finds the bright spots in every situation. She has always been so willing to help those in need. But now she needs your support.  My hope is that she will be flooded with love, compassion, caring and healing from others.

You can make a big difference today for her by donating in any amount possible.

Thank you,
Tracy R.

My friend is a high profile non-profit leader in the community.  She is a vital asset to our community who has sacrificed time, energy and her own income to make a difference in the world.  In fact, day in and day out this woman gives her heart and soul to fulfill the mission of the incredible startup non-profit organization she founded.

This friend is also a single mom without any close or extended family around to help her.  In fact, her parents are both deceased and she has no siblings. I see my friend, who is a private and strong woman, feel so alone.  Thankfully, she has friends who think of her as family.  And although she doesn’t like to ask for help, we won’t let her go without it.

She will need support every step of the way during this surgery and recovery:  shopping, cleaning, cooking, transportation for her young son.  She will especially need help to pay her bills and cover medical expenses.

Your help, however much, is deeply appreciated and I invite you to stay “tuned into” her progress on our Facebook page.

You can make a big difference today for her!

Thank you,
Tracy