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               Building a Bridge to Hope


 

  New Year 2011 Newsletter 

Current Stories
Knights, Maidens, a Castle and Moonlight...Save the Date for our Gala for Hope on Midsummer Night, July 16th
Meet VIP Chad Hickey
2011 Team for Life Endurance Events - Reserve your bib now for Bank of America Chicago Marathon or Marine Corp Marathon
Love to Knit? Join the ongoing Afghan for Hope project at Fashion Knit in Walnut Creek
Shawn Hammerschmidt Gives Lazarex a Run for the Money
Join Team for Life
Other Ways to Support Lazarex!
Dear Friend,

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2011!  Enjoy the good news... 

There is ample evidence that the recession has taken a significant toll on many individuals and industries, including non-profit organizations such as ours. That is why I am particularly proud and gratified to report that in 2010 Lazarex was able to raise close to $1.2 million. I know everyone involved with Lazarex joins me in thanking all of you from the bottom of our hearts. In 2011 our goal is to raise $1.5 million with increases in corporate grants, sponsorships, and private donations. As you will see, we are forming a full calendar of fundraising events for this year. Please save the evening of July 16th for our "Gala for Hope" in Calistoga. We have some details about it in this newsletter, with more to follow.  

 

None of our success would be possible without the help of all of you. Our friends, our corporate supporters and our Team for Life members worked miracles last year. Whether it was a Halloween Party, a Motorcycle Club event, a baseball clinic, a golf tournament, selling fashion accessories, or an auction; our community came together and supported our Very Important Patients and their families to give the most important gift of all: the gift of hope.  Last month we tried something new, a poker tournament, and raised $7,500. Big thanks to Brendan Noonan and Kyle Cliff. I'm sure we'll be anteing up again in 2011.

 

Patients like this month's VIP, Chad Hickey, are benefiting from support like this every day. Please help us by who you think would be interested in Lazarex.  

 

Won't you join us in building a bridge to hope and making this the happiest of New Years?

Sincerely,
Dana's sig




Dana Dornsife
President, Lazarex Cancer Foundation

Save the Date for our 2011 Gala for Hope

on a Midsummer Night  

 

Knights, Maidens, a Castle and Moonlight at the Castello di Amorosa

 

Hold the evening of July 16, 2011 for the social event of the season. If you've been to Calistoga, CA you know what a beautiful setting we will have. Now add in a 13th century-style castle and it has to be a party to remember. There will be dinner, dancing, live entertainment, and a live auction all to support a great cause. It wouldn't be a party without you! Stay tuned for more details.

Castello di Amororosa: http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/

 

Castello di Amorosa

Join us at the Castello di Amorosa for Lazarex's 2011 Gala for Hope on a Midsummer Night

Meet Very Important Patient (VIP) Chad Hickey
 


Chad Hickey

In the summer of 2007 Chad Hickey, then 23, embarked on what he thought would be a new adventure in paradise. After closing his business and packing up his life he flew to his new life in Hawaii.  However the adventure was to be of a different course than he had planned. Shortly after arriving on the island he noticed his health declining. He experienced severe fatigue, lapse of energy and he found himself at times in virtual deep surf unable to move his arms.  It was at this point that he sought more medical attention and after a few tests it was confirmed that he had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He endured several rounds of chemotherapy in 2008, but in April of 2010 just 3 weeks before the completion of a 2.5 year treatment, Chad had a full relapse. This time chemotherapy alone would not be a viable option and Chad needed to move to San Francisco for an experimental regime at UCSF. He began the pretreatment and a search for a bone marrow donor.  Over the next five weeks Chad and his fianc�e Anna reunited and went through rigorous chemo while planning a wedding. Chad's sister Erin was a match and a bone marrow transplant date was set.

While the fear and struggle was going on a financial issue was also looming. Chad had just finished paying off the first few years of medical bills and was now facing much, much more. Weeks of trying to find a place for he and Anna to stay while he was treated in San Francisco yielded few options. With debt growing and unable to find housing, Chad and Anna were connected with Lazarex through Tiffany with the UCSF Social Services. Lazarex was able to support them in finding and covering the expenses of having a place to stay in a city far from home. With this grant Chad and Anna were able to have a home away from home and just days prior to the transplant got married with a huge burden lifted. Chad put it best in his blog...Chad & Anna

"...there are tears in this fight... tears of all kinds. For over three years now I have found myself at lows that offer little light at the end of the tunnel. I will say however in this time there have been hands outstretched that in no way can I ever thank. Imagine thinking you lost everything at 23 in Hawaii and then just days before the love of your life returns realizing you may lose more than you could imagine. To have a stranger, this Lazarex Cancer Foundation enable us to have a home and a space during the hardest fight of my life, well its something I couldn't ever thank them enough for. Today I am grateful for these tears.... "

As of now Chad is six months out of transplant and dealing with the normal side effects. He and Anna are able to finally get some time alone while she is his in home nurse and support system. Despite the side effects and hardships that continue, they have found happiness in creating a life together through this adventure and are eternally grateful to Lazarex for enabling and facilitating a home environment.

 
 

Patients like this month's VIP, Chad, are benefiting from support like this every day. Please help us by  who you think would be interested in Lazarex.

Team for Life Events - Join us, Donate, Have Fun!
 
Wachovia Tar Heel 10 Miler and Fleet Feet 4+ Miler
    
  Wachovia Tar Heel 10 Miler logo

When: April 9, 2011 

Where: Chapel Hill, NC 

What: This unique 10-mile running event will showcase Chapel Hill from every angle. The race starts and finishes on the beautiful campus of the University of North Carolina and goes through downtown Chapel Hill as well as several gorgeous residential neighborhoods. Best of all, runners will once again FINISH INSIDE KENAN STADIUM!

 

Registration opens February 1, 2011. Interested in participating? Contact Jenny Walls or go to the web page: TFL Wachovia Tar Heel 10 Miler


 

rrseattleRock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2
 

When: June 25, 2011

Where: Seattle, WA 

What: A marathon and a half marathon that wind through the city of Seattle and along the shores of Lake Washington with views of Elliott's Bay and the Space Needle before ending in Quest Stadium.

 

Registration opens February 1, 2011. Interested in participating? Contact Jenny Walls or go to the web page: TFL Rock n Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2
 

 

Register now for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

This race will sell out before the end of the month. Reserve your bib with us today and support Lazarex in Chicago as a Team for Life member!  
 

When: October 9, 2011                     

Where: Chicago, IL

What: A full marathon through the Windy City

 

Registration opens on February 1, 2011.  Lazarex is an official charity of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and we are registering now! To register contact Jenny Walls or go to the web page: TFL Bank of America Chicago Marathon

 

 

Register now for the Marine Corp Marathon

  

This race typically sells out within 3 days.

Reserve your bib with us today and support Lazarex in Washington DC as a Team for Life member!
 
  Marine Corps Marathon

When: October 30, 2011                     

Where: Arlington, VA 

What: A full marathon and 10k through Arlington, VA and Washington, DC 

 

Marine Corp registration opens February 23, 2011. Lazarex is an official charity of the Marine Corp Marathon and we are registering now! To register contact Jenny Walls or go to the web page: TFL Marine Corp Marathon

 

Calling All Knitters - Join the "Afghan for Hope Project" and stay warm inside and out!
Knitress Jeanine Johnson

Knitress Jeanine Johnson of Fashion Knit



 

Do you love to knit or know someone who does? If so, we have a great project for you for the first half of 2011, dreamed up by Jeanine Johnson, avid knitter and owner of Fashion Knit. The project kick off was on January 15th. There will be monthly meetings through June so there is still plenty of time to contribute. Knitters can also create blocks at home and mail or bring them to the Fashion Knit store on 675 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek, CA. The blocks will be assembled into an arstisan blanket to be auctioned off at our July 16th gala. The proceeds benefit Lazarex's patient program services.

To sign up and receive pattern and yarn specifications call 925-943-3994 or email [email protected]. Please reference the Afghan for Hope project when you contact the Fashion Knit Store. You can also read about it by using this link: http://on.fb.me/fa2tLr

 

Shawn Hammerschmidt, a "Team for Life" Member, Gives Lazarex a Run for the Money

Shawn Hammerschmidt
Shawn Hammerschmidt

In 2009 Shawn Hammerschmidt worked hard for the money he raised for Lazarex. Inspired by friends who recovered from cancer and in support of those with cancer, Shawn took to competing for a cause.

 

During the year Hammerschmidt entered four events and ran a total of 162 miles to raise $3,300. In 2010 he topped that by running a triathlon that demanded he swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles in less then 17 hours (a Full Iron-Distance Triathlon). In that event alone he raised $1,700, bringing his two year total to more than $5,000.

 

Thanks, Sean, your compassion, fitness and commitment level make you a role model for all of us! 


Read About Shawn's Challenge

View Shawn's Lazarex Cancer Foundation Challenge Video
 

Join Team For Life

 

Team for Life is a unique fundraising program that gives you the chance to directly support Lazarexteamforlifelogo Cancer Foundation by participating in any endurance event where Lazarex has an official team OR by creating your own fundraising event. 

 

Can't make it to one of our endurance events? Not an athlete? Not to worry! You can participate in any event of your choice OR create you own. Whatever you like to do - run, cycle, walk, bake, dance or knit!

Team for Life provides a simple platform to help you organize your fundraising efforts. We'll help you get started by providing training, fundraising tips and most importantly, moral support!

Best of all, whether you create your own event or join one of Lazarex's offical endurance teams, all your fundraising efforts will directly benefit the patients of Lazarex Cancer Foundation! 

For more information you go to www.teamforlifelcf.org.

Other Ways You Can Support Lazarex

Car Donation Services Heart

 Donate your car, truck, RV or boat! Please help Lazarex Cancer Foundation build a bridge to hope, dignity and life for cancer patients and their families by donating that unneeded vehicle. We are partnering with Car Donation Services to handle our vehicle donations. They will take very good care of you and they take very good care of us! They use a variety of methods to sell vehicles so vehicles, on average, sell for more, which means more money for us and a larger tax deduction for you.

To donate, please call 1-888-686-4483 and tell them you want to donate your vehicle to Lazarex Cancer Foundation, or complete our donation form. Thank you for your generosity!



The Scott Zenaro family has expanded its bracelet line where all the proceeBraceletsds go to Lazarex. 

Along with the very pretty line of women's bracelets, Scott's mom Carol has developed a line of men's bracelets. Both are available for a $20 donation. Recently added are small beaded bracelets (perfect for younger girls) available for a $5 donation. Last year they reached their goal to raise $20,000 thanks to you. Be sure to put the word "bracelet in the "In Honor Of" field on line or on your check.

Read About the Zenaros "Giving Back"

About Lazarex Cancer Foundation
Our Mission: We provide resources for cancer patients who have been told they have no other options, but who are not yet done with their journey in life and refuse to give up now.

Lazarex Cancer Foundation builds a bridge to hope, dignity and life for cancer patients and their families. We provide financial assistance to defray the costs associated with patient participation in FDA clinical trials. Additionally, we help patients navigate their clinical trial options and provide community education and outreach services. We believe that together we can build a bridge to hope. To learn more, please contact us at 925.820.4517, toll-free at 877.866.9523, or visit us at www.lazarex.org.
 
Please help us spread the word by  (or many!) who you think would be interested in Lazarex Cancer Foundation or one of our many events. Thanks!