Finally got to meet Doreen Perks and Jen Finkle today. Awesome, awesome women! Through talking with them however I got a better view of the big picture. It is projected that this year alone, the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund will give out $160, 000!!! to residents in Clearfield, Centre, Blair and Huntingdon counties. Right in our back yard. From January to July, they have given away $20,000 to cancer patients in Clearfield County!!! This is awesome. But there is still a great need. As our government is sadly finding out, money does not indeed grow on trees. BPCAF's main fundraiser is their tailgate party, this year scheduled for November 19. It is an awesome fundraiser, but this year, it just may not pay the bills. The need is becoming greater than the resources. I realize that we cannot possibly solve the problems of the world. I also realize that we are a society inundated with fundraisers. Go to your mailbox. Unfortunately, most of our lives will be touched at some point in time with cancer. For me, it is the ugliest word in the English language. I hope you never have to hear that word coupled with your loved one's name. But we can stand together, and we can give a helping hand to our neighbors who have been thrown into this crazy thing we call life. For those of you who are involved, you have all been awesome at helping with this dinner and auction, and we applaude you. This would not be possible without you. But for those of you who are sitting on the fence, please think about it. If you cannot attend the dinner, we understand, but please think about giving back to our community through the Bob Perks Fund. Maybe you can give a donation or maybe you can give time. True beauty really does come from pain.
Holly
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
This is getting serious!!
Hey all - as of today, we are officially in "spaghetti dinner mode." The dinner will be in full swing this time on Saturday. Now, I know that Shane and Holly have had this on their minds for weeks but it wasn't until our radio hits this morning that I got really excited. At 6:45 a.m., Shasta, Holly and I loaded into my vehicle and headed to Forever Broadcasting in State College. The rainy day didn't have us in the most cheerful of moods but upon entering the station, we all perked up. We were greeted by Scott and then waited for the walk of fame. We did approximately 2 minute hits on MAJIC 99, BIG Froggy 101, WRSC-FM and 93.7 THE BUS. Holly did a great job taking the lead and promoting our event. Shane has decided that she should be a DJ and we can call her Holly Wolly in the morning. Um, we'll see how that goes...anyway, the folks at the radio station were so awesome and did a great job. More importantly, however, we were finally able to meet face-to-face with Doreen Perks and her colleague, Jen Finkle of the Bob Perks Cancer Fund. After many emails, it was nice to put a face with a name. We then enjoyed breakfast and spent several hours talking and getting to know each other. I think this really motivated us all and we are all really looking forward to Saturday. Meanwhile, during our chatting (you know how girls can talk and talk and talk...), I received a voice mail from a lady at WTAJ wanting to do a news story on the dinner. WOW!!! I was so excited!! Long story short, Holly will be debuting on the 5 o'clock news. I still don't know how/when/where WTAJ heard about the event but this is so so sooooooo awesome. The Cancer Fund is always looking for donations and we hope advertising will get us a good crowd so we can give them a nice amount of money to help others. I hope to see you at the dinner, and if you don't have tickets yet...call me!!
-Shawna :0)
-Shawna :0)
Monday, August 8, 2011
Incase you missed it....
From Saturday's (August 6) edition of The Progress:
Man battles cancer but helps others in need
Saturday, August 06, 2011
By Tyler Kolesar Staff Writer
GRASSFLAT - Most people who have cancer just try to survive. It's hard enough battling the vicious disease, let alone going out of your way to help others in need. Shane Michaels is a rarity in this day and age, as he does just that. In June 2008, Michaels was diagnosed with a rare form of Hodgkin's lymphoma called Nodular Lymphocyte Predomin- ant Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
"It's kind of a cross between Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's, and that's the weird part," said Michaels about his rare disease. "Hodgkin's is like 99 percent treatable, as in you never get it back. ... It's (his disease) still treatable, but it has a higher tendency of multiple occurrences." Michaels is currently on his third time of fighting the disease, and finished up another five weeks of radiation a few weeks ago. He said he has had quite a few trips over the years to Hershey Medical Center for clinical trials, as well as Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. For the last radiation treatment, Michaels said he traveled to Hershey each day, Monday through Friday. At Johns Hopkins Hospital, Michaels took an experimental drug called Bexxar. "It's basically chemotherapy and IV radiation at the same time," said Michaels. "They've used it for other non-Hodgkin's patients and they're attempting to use it for Hodgkin's patients." One thing Michaels has been blessed with through his trials is help and support from not only family and friends, but also from complete strangers."The amount of people that's helped me is ridiculous," Michaels said. "There's people that I don't even know, never even seen or heard of them in my life, and they've helped me. And that's just amazing. There are still good people out there." It's this generosity by people that drives Michaels to help others in need. One way he is doing this is by helping run a spaghetti dinner benefiting the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund. Michaels said the fund helps cancer patients in Clearfield, Centre, Huntingdon and Blair counties. All proceeds of a fundraiser benefiting the fund goes toward the patients. "The main thing about the dinner is we're trying to let people know the Bob Perks Fund is out there, and it's another way of helping out local cancer patients," said Michaels. "They have no administration fees, so every penny that goes in goes towards a cancer patient." Michaels said his family members, along with members of the Messiah Baptist Church in Lanse, Community Alliance Chuch in Karthaus, and members of the Grassflat, Winburne and Morris Township fire companies are helping put on the next event. The date is set for Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Grassflat firehall. Michaels said more than 100 people have taken the time to help out with this dinner. Lots of donated time and labor have gone into the dinner. Michaels said the Grassflat Fire Co. is donating the building's use.The two churches are making desserts, and a myriad of people and companies are donating for the Chinese auction.
"There's so many companies that are donating items for the Chinese auction," Michaels said. "And individuals are making hand-made things and quilts and stuff. ... It's pretty amazing how people come together really." Tickets for the dinner are $6 for adults, $3 for kids ages 5-11, and kids younger than 5 eat for free. Tickets are available by presale or at the door. "I know that there's a lot of people that don't get the help that they need," said Michaels. "People help me, but I know there's people that don't get the help they deserve. The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund will help them with this (regular bills/travel costs, etc.)." Michaels also has advice for people going through their own trials and tribulations fighting cancer: keep a positive attitude and have your faith.
"You have to trust that God will get you through it," said Michaels. "Yes I'm going through this, but through the clinical trials, maybe they (doctors) learn something about me that they can use for someone else."
Man battles cancer but helps others in need
Saturday, August 06, 2011
By Tyler Kolesar Staff Writer
GRASSFLAT - Most people who have cancer just try to survive. It's hard enough battling the vicious disease, let alone going out of your way to help others in need. Shane Michaels is a rarity in this day and age, as he does just that. In June 2008, Michaels was diagnosed with a rare form of Hodgkin's lymphoma called Nodular Lymphocyte Predomin- ant Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
"It's kind of a cross between Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's, and that's the weird part," said Michaels about his rare disease. "Hodgkin's is like 99 percent treatable, as in you never get it back. ... It's (his disease) still treatable, but it has a higher tendency of multiple occurrences." Michaels is currently on his third time of fighting the disease, and finished up another five weeks of radiation a few weeks ago. He said he has had quite a few trips over the years to Hershey Medical Center for clinical trials, as well as Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. For the last radiation treatment, Michaels said he traveled to Hershey each day, Monday through Friday. At Johns Hopkins Hospital, Michaels took an experimental drug called Bexxar. "It's basically chemotherapy and IV radiation at the same time," said Michaels. "They've used it for other non-Hodgkin's patients and they're attempting to use it for Hodgkin's patients." One thing Michaels has been blessed with through his trials is help and support from not only family and friends, but also from complete strangers."The amount of people that's helped me is ridiculous," Michaels said. "There's people that I don't even know, never even seen or heard of them in my life, and they've helped me. And that's just amazing. There are still good people out there." It's this generosity by people that drives Michaels to help others in need. One way he is doing this is by helping run a spaghetti dinner benefiting the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund. Michaels said the fund helps cancer patients in Clearfield, Centre, Huntingdon and Blair counties. All proceeds of a fundraiser benefiting the fund goes toward the patients. "The main thing about the dinner is we're trying to let people know the Bob Perks Fund is out there, and it's another way of helping out local cancer patients," said Michaels. "They have no administration fees, so every penny that goes in goes towards a cancer patient." Michaels said his family members, along with members of the Messiah Baptist Church in Lanse, Community Alliance Chuch in Karthaus, and members of the Grassflat, Winburne and Morris Township fire companies are helping put on the next event. The date is set for Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Grassflat firehall. Michaels said more than 100 people have taken the time to help out with this dinner. Lots of donated time and labor have gone into the dinner. Michaels said the Grassflat Fire Co. is donating the building's use.The two churches are making desserts, and a myriad of people and companies are donating for the Chinese auction.
"There's so many companies that are donating items for the Chinese auction," Michaels said. "And individuals are making hand-made things and quilts and stuff. ... It's pretty amazing how people come together really." Tickets for the dinner are $6 for adults, $3 for kids ages 5-11, and kids younger than 5 eat for free. Tickets are available by presale or at the door. "I know that there's a lot of people that don't get the help that they need," said Michaels. "People help me, but I know there's people that don't get the help they deserve. The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund will help them with this (regular bills/travel costs, etc.)." Michaels also has advice for people going through their own trials and tribulations fighting cancer: keep a positive attitude and have your faith.
"You have to trust that God will get you through it," said Michaels. "Yes I'm going through this, but through the clinical trials, maybe they (doctors) learn something about me that they can use for someone else."
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Check out today's edition of The Progress!!
http://www.theprogressnews.com/
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see Shane and Holly's story. Please share with your family and friends.
Thanks!
Shawna :o)
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see Shane and Holly's story. Please share with your family and friends.
Thanks!
Shawna :o)
Friday, August 5, 2011
Could you spare $5?
I've mentioned before about the blog post I follow called "RunningStrong for Hope" and wanted to share today's blog:
Today is August 5th.
Just another day of summer...right?
Not in my world. Each of the next 15 days is significant to me.
Seven years ago, today was the LAST day cancer was not part of our daily world. Tomorrow is the day Brian was admitted to the hospital and the cancer journey began.
Today was still filled with hope of a life time together. I would do anything to have 5 minutes back with Brian....and my sister....and my mother....and my father.
So, in honor of today, I am asking you to join me in donating $5 to LIVESTRONG - $5 for 5 minutes on the 5th.
http://run.livestrong.org/teamls2011/barbarasimmons
Together we can kick cancer to the curb.....I'll do the running!
I know $5 isn't really a significant amount but every little bit adds up. I did my part and donated, will you?
-Shawna :0)
Just another day of summer...right?
Not in my world. Each of the next 15 days is significant to me.
Seven years ago, today was the LAST day cancer was not part of our daily world. Tomorrow is the day Brian was admitted to the hospital and the cancer journey began.
Today was still filled with hope of a life time together. I would do anything to have 5 minutes back with Brian....and my sister....and my mother....and my father.
So, in honor of today, I am asking you to join me in donating $5 to LIVESTRONG - $5 for 5 minutes on the 5th.
http://run.livestrong.org/teamls2011/barbarasimmons
Together we can kick cancer to the curb.....I'll do the running!
I know $5 isn't really a significant amount but every little bit adds up. I did my part and donated, will you?
-Shawna :0)
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Ticket Booth - Saturday!
Shasta, Bill, Shane, Holly, Natalie & I will be at the Mountain View Market Place on
Saturday, July 30 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
selling tickets.
Don't forget to stop by and purchase yours.
Be sure to check The Progress on Saturday, August 6 for a special article on Shane and his family. You can also view it online at: http://theprogressnews.com/
AND on August 9 tune in to either (or all!) MAJIC99, BIG Froggy 101, WRSC-FM or 93.7 THE BUS to hear a live broadcast from Shasta & I and Doreen Perks from the Bob Perks Cancer Fund. We will be giving away a four pack of dinner tickets at each location and I may just throw in a few auction tickets with the package too!
-Shawna :o)
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