As of right now, any treatment of her cancer has been denied by the insurance company. She had a scan done on Friday which revealed a tumor behind her kidney that has now grown to 5.5x3.5x2.5. She is having a lot of pain in her abdomen as well as in her head right now. Without treatment, her tumors will continue to grow. I believe it’s been at least 8 weeks since her last chemotherapy treatment.
Her parents have been consumed with researching different treatment options and studies across the country. It is basically up to them to find answers or leads to treatments and it is an emotional roller coaster for them. Right now, they think there might be a chance for her to join a study in Dallas, TX. This would require that they go to Dallas for a total of about 5-6 weeks and then return once a month for follow up care. Of course the biggest obstacle to this is money.
Here is what they need and how you can help:
• I would like to create a schedule of “meals on wheels” as they do not have the time or energy to be cooking healthy meals. If anyone would like to donate frozen meals to the Foster’s, please let me know, I will come get them if you need and I will make sure that they get them. I’ve also contacted Kathy to see if there are any days of the week that they are typically home so that we can create a schedule of people to bring by fresh, homemade meals to them.
• On December 1st from 6:30-8:30 one of Glen and Kathy’s friends has rented out the entire skating rink at Oaks Park as a 50th Birthday Party (Slash) Fundraiser for Lesly. It can hold 1000 people. Does anyone know how to get this into the media so that it becomes more of a public event where anyone and everyone can come? If you can come, we would appreciate it and if you can come AND donate PLEASE do!
• I would like to coordinate a Bunco fundraiser. I am hoping to get volunteers to host a Bunco game at their home for the benefit of Lesly. The more hosts, the better! My goal is to have at least 20 hosts. If you already belong to a Bunco group, this could be a really easy task. If you don’t , STILL pretty easy! And for example, if you and your daughter play in the same Bunco group, it would be great for each of you to host a game to enlarge the network of games being played. I’ve thought of having all of the games on one night as a “Bunco Night for Lesly” however I know that everyone has different schedules and it may be better to allow for more flexibility. If we were to have it on one night, December 5th or 12th is my suggestion. Suggestions on how it would work:
o $10 buy in per person – or more if they would like. Ideally each game will generate $120 or more, therefore the more games the better it is for Lesly.
o Regular Bunco rules will apply
o I will supply dice, paper, pens if you need it
o A suggestion of a “Couples” Bunco party has been suggested as a theme.
o You can ask for people to bring snacks in an effort to keep costs low for the host.
o If the Bunco host would like, they can donate gifts for prizes but because you are already donating your time and house, I think people would understand not receiving prizes.
o I know Bunco groups are highly coveted and that your monthly games are very much looked forward to. If you would like to “donate” your month’s game to this fundraiser, it would be greatly appreciated. If you could do this on top of your monthly game, it would be greatly appreciated. Whatever you can do!
• Glen and Kathy are so consumed by all of this that Christmas is a very difficult time. With financial resources low as well as time to shop, I’d like to help them out in this area too. If you would like to donate a gift, please contact me and I will arrange to come get it. Lesly is 9 – she loves all things girly. She is very crafty and loves art projects. She also loves Hannah Montana, dogs, horses. She has a Nintendo DS as well as a Wii, so new games might be nice.
• If you or someone you know is able to donate frequent flyer miles or hotel points for their travels to Dallas or wherever this might lead/take them, I would be more than happy to help take them off your hands.
• If all else fails and all you can do at this time is donate some money, please do that as well. If you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation, visit any nationwide Chase Bank branch and donate to: Account Number 492-397-9631 for benefit of Lesly Foster
Thank you again for your time. If you have any suggestions or ideas for fundraisers, I am here to listen.
Sincerely,
Kristie VanValkenburg
503-267-5211
1 comment:
Try posting the Oaks Park event on Craigslist. Get in contact with the PTO at her school and her old teacher. If you have a fundraiser flyer put together they will most likely allow you to distribute it to the kids at her school.
Ask her old teacher to hold a penny drive or cookie sale for Lesly. The school should help, we do these things all of the time. Love you!
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