One Amazing Family

So, Jim and I headed to Lancaster on Sunday night to drop off the clothing, toys and check to the Goodley family. Not knowing what to expect, we were somewhat apprehensive when pulling up to the front of their townhouse. We were concerned about Tonesha's state of mind and wondering how she was managing to take care of these 5 children all by herself while Kellop is in the hospital doing his best to fight the leukemia and return home to his family. From the time we walked through their door until we left about 45 minutes later (and that was because the kids needed to get to bed because it was a school night) we were so amazed at the job these parents have done with their beautiful, intelligent, amazing children. From Malachi who is the oldest at 9 years old (he will turn 10 on Dec. 30)to Faith who is about 1-yr old and was walking all around and would give you a hug and a kiss if you would ask for one, they are an an amazing family. We have attached a few pictures that we took while visiting with them.

This is exactly why the DJD Foundation was formed and are so pleased that they were referred to us because there couldn't be a more deserving family than this one. Please keep Tonesha, Kellop, Malachi, Destiny, Isiah, Kamia and Faith in your prayers. Kellop had his stem cell transplant today at Hershey. We are hoping to be in touch with Tonesha later this week to find out how it is going.

As we were leaving the Goodley home the children thanked us for coming and said "God bless you". Jim and I told them it was a pleasure meeting them and spending some time in their home.

We just want to say a huge "thank you" to all of you who have given your time and support to the foundation because Sunday night was one of the most gratifying night's we can remember in quite some time.

-Jim and Donna

The Goodley Family

Happy Holidays everyone! The foundation has received it's first referal from, Hershey Medical Center. The family is from Lancaster, the father Kellop ( 30 years old) has ALL, and he and his wife Tonesha have 5 children aged 9 to 1. The foundation is helping pay for some living and medical expenses., but we are asking for your help to provide some things for the family and children for Christmas. The children are in need of clothes and coats. Their sizes are size 14- girl, size 12- boy, size 8 boy. size 6 - girl, and size 12 -18 months -girl. Kellop is laso having his transplant soon and will be oin the hospital over Christmas, so I am trying to collect a few toys and games for the children to open on Christmas with their father. The father needs a hat, scarf, and slippers. For anyone who would like to donate just leave a comment here and you can either drop off at my house in Lewisburg or at Donna and Jim's at 200 North Maple Street Ephrata. * If they are not home, feel free to leave on the back porch and leave them a message letting them know you left it. The deadline is next Thursday December 17th. Let's help bring this family some joy in their time of need! Thank you all so much,and have a wonderful holiday season.

* Also mark your calendars for the 2nd annual beef and beer benefit to be held at Finnigan's Wake in Philadelphia from 4-7 on January 23rd. It'ds all you can eat and drink, and it was a lot of fun last year!

Dec 6 2009

Thanks to all who kept Derrick in their thoughts today< lit candles in his memory and paid tribute to his enthusiastic spirit!

Observance Update

Thanks to all who have responded to our "24 Hours of Remembrance". We have been overwhelmed with the response and have all the hours covered by different individuals/families participating to honor Derrick by lighting a candle. Derrick will certainly have his huge smile plastered on his face for the whole day as he looks down from heaven and witnesses all the candles lit in his memory.

In addition, please keep Mindy in your thoughts and prayers as she tackles another marathon tomorrow. She continues to be an inspiration to us all!

-Donna

24 Hours of Remembrance

As we approach the one year anniversary of Derrick's passing, a number of people have asked what they can do to help celebrate Derrick's life and continue the legacy of inspiration that Derrick and Mindy shared during his cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here is what we've come up with.....we would like to have candles lit on the hour every hour starting at 1am December 6th and continuing until midnight that day. We encourage as many people to participate as feel moved to do so. You may light your candle wherever you are at the time and take a few minutes to remember the message Derrick instilled in us all "cherish one another and live each day to the fullest." Please leave a comment on the blog under this post to indicate the time you choose to participate. Don't worry about duplicating time slots. Let's make sure each hour is covered!

We would also like to thank all of you for your continued support of Jim and I, Marcy, Mindy and the DJD Fight On Foundation. We continue to be overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness and kindness demonstrated by friends, family and people we have never even met. Hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Jim, Donna, Marcy and Mindy

Please help!

If you haven't yet signed up to be on the Bone Marrow donor registry, please consider signing up at the Neffsville Fire Company this Thursday starting at 2 pm. this drive is being held in honor of Casey Coble, who is still looking for a better bone marrow donor for his bone marrow transplant. Please pass the opportunity to help someone in your community along to family and friends!


- For more information on bone marrow donation, please see www.marrow.org

Make a Difference Day

Thank you and Congratulations to Cherie Chism for working with a local elementary school to raise money for Chemo ducks. Cherie and the students raised enough money to purchase 50 chemo ducks in memory of Derrick and in honor of her mother Carla Schreck, whom the Foundation has helped. Thank you so much Cherie! Keep up the great work!


In other news, please follow Casey Coble's courageous battle with leukemia on his blog www.caseyscrusade.blogspot.com Please keep Casey and his family in your prayers :)

-Mindy

Congratulations Jay!

Congratulations Jay Morrissey for completing the 100 mile bike ride in honor of Derrick for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Jay raised over $2900 for leukemia research. Thanks Jay and we are so proud of you! 100 miles is a huge feat!


In other news, please keep another Ephrata resident in your prayers. Casey Coble,a 2000 Ephrata graduate, recently found out that his leukemia relapsed. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments, and he needs prayers for strength and recovery. Derrick and I met Casey when he came to the hospital to talk to Derrick and give him hope and inspiration. Derrick was touched that Casey took the time to come talk to him. Please keep Casey and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Mindy

Updates...

I hope everyone had a great summer! I just wanted to give some updates on recent Fight On activities. Due to a hospital switch and a $2,000 grant, we were able to take another hospital for chemo ducks! The Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems in Richmond now has 100 chemo ducks in honor of Derrick! Also please check the website djdfighton.org and check out the link on the left called The Fight Back. It gives information on all the ways others are fighting back in honor of Derrick! Also we have had at least 5 people from Derrick's bone marrow drives be called as matches for someone! Mark your calendars for the 2nd annual DJD Fight On Golf Tournament to be held at the Manor Golf Course on Saturday, June 26, 2010. Hope everyone has a great Labor Day!

Mindy :)

Some information...

Here is a benefit one of our family friends is having to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Please attend if you can!

Mindy :)

Vera Bradley Bingo

Saturday September 12, 2009
Time : 1:00- 4:00
Place: Grill Fire Company
743 Mountain View Road, Shillington, Pa 19607
Price: $20.00 which includes hot dog and beverage

Contact: Jason Morrissey @ 610-698- 0327 or morrj@vt.edu

* There will be raffles, 50/50 drawings and baked goods!

Benefit for Carla Schrek

Yesterday's fundraiser was a huge success, we were able to raise nearly $3,000 to help Carla and her family pay for her medical expenses! There was a great turnout, and I think everyone had a lot of fun! Besides the Bingo and the chinese auction we also raffled off Penn State tickets and a 60 inch tv! My favorite part of the day is when Carla got up in front of everyone and thanked them and let them know how much it meant to have their support. Here is a photo of Carla and her family. Check out the website for more photos soon!

Mindy :)

* Thanks to everyone who donated, helped, or attended the Bingo... Without all of your support we couldn't keep Derrick's dream to help families alive!

Making a Difference...

I am happy to share with everyone that the Foundation has officially helped it's second family, Matt and Miranda Lauffer. Derrick and I met Matt and Miranda in NYC, when Derrick and Matt where both getting bone marrow transplants. The foundation was so glad that we were able to help them, because Derrick and I became very close to them both during our time in the hospital and at the Hope Lodge. Derrick and Matt spent many confined nights at the Hope Lodge together playing Mario Cart and Wii... Miranda was my sanity while I was there. It was so nice having someone to talk and relate to.They are both wonderful people and they definitely helped to make our stay away from home so much better! I am happy to say that Matt just had his ine year post transplant check up and he is doing great! I want to thank everyone who has continued to be so generous with donating their time, money, and efforts to keep Derrick's memory and dream alive. Without the support of each of you, none of this would be possible. Here is a letter from Matt and Miranda... ( I will add their picture soon!)

Hey, my name is Matt Lauffer…in January 2008 I was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). If left untreated MDS can lead to Leukemia.In the early stages of my illness, before my diagnosis, I was uninsured while visiting several doctors and ER’s which led to tremendous debt.My wife Miranda met Mindy at Sloan Kettering while Derrick and I were receiving our stem cell transplants.While Derrick and I were confined to our rooms, Mindy and Miranda spent time together talking and planning our weddings.Shortly after, we relocated to the Hope Lodge in NYC where the four of us became good friends.Derrick and I spent many hours playing games on the Wii and just discussing our progress.After I was allowed to leave the city and relocate back home, I continued to follow Derrick and Mindy’s story.I read about all the foundation had done for other cancer families and the money that they had raised thanks to Mindy’s determination to keep Derrick’s dream alive. Over the next several months, I was only able to pay the minimum amounts to all the hospitals I had outstanding balances with.It wasn’t until recently that all of my balances went to collection agencies.Mindy had insisted that she help us if we needed it and it finally got to the point where the foundation was our only hope.Thanks to the foundation, all of its supporters and Derrick’s dream we are now able to pay off all of our medical debt and enjoy our recent marriage without the stresses of medical debt.
With much love and support,
Matt and Miranda Lauffer


In other news, the Foundation is hosting a fundraiser this weekend for our third family we are helping. Our goal is to help Carla Schrek pay for her medical bills and her chemo treatments since she does not have insurance. I will keep you posted on how it goes! Also, I ordered fitted hats with the logo on. They are white with light blue and black writing. they turned out really nice! I can order in other colors if anyone is interested. Also, I still have a lot of 5k shirts left, so let me know if you are interested.

* I am currently working on getting the logos/information of the sponsors of the foundation. This would include all the business who have donated or helped out for fundraisers. I would like to add this information to the sponsor page on our website, so please email me your logos when you get a chance. Thanks!

Mindy :)

Ephrata 5K....

Once again, the Ephrata 5K was a huge success! Thanks so much to everyone who participated and donated their time and efforts. A special thanks to Kelly Holst and Marcy for all their hard work, which made the event such as huge success. The 5K raised $3800 for families with cancer! there are still plenty of 5k shirts left, which are on sale for $10. They come in red with white lettering or yellow with black writing. Please check the website in the next few days for pictures from the event!


In other news, the foundation will be helping two new families! First, we are having a Vera Bradley Bingo for Carla Shreck on August 8th at the St. Joseph's Parish Center in Milton. The doors open at 11:30 nd the bingo starts at 1:00. Let me know if you are interested in buying tickets and/or sponsering a bag. Carla has stage 3 ovarian cancer, which has come back. She has accumulated a great deal of medical bills due to being out of work for cancer treatment. She is starting another round of chemotherapy which means more bills. We are hoping to help ease Carla's stress over paying for her bills, so she can focus on getting healthy. I will post more about the other family in the next week. Here is a picture of Carla Schreck.

Ephrata/ Akron 5K

Just wanted to post a reminder about the upcoming 5K race to be held in the Akron Park. I hope everyone comes out to support the great cause and to catch up with friends. We have found a new family to help, which I am really excited about. I will post more information about the family at a later date. Here is the information for the 5k:

Ephrata 5K Walk/Run on July 25, 2009
Location: Roland Park in Akron, PA
Time: 8:00am - Registration
9:00am - start of 5K

5K registration form.
5K Information.

* If you can not make it, but still would like to purchase a 5K shirt please let me know. They are $10, and they come in red with white lettering and gold with black lettering. They say I run... (front) to Fight on.... DJD Fight on Foundation ( back) with the website on the sleeve. They turned out really really nice!

Have a great day!
Mindy :)

Golf Tournament

Words can not express my gratitude for the amazing success we had with the golf tournament. We, the Dull family, continue to be truly blessed with wonderful family and friends, who continuously offer their support to keep Derrick's memory alive. Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, golfers, committee members, church members, and those who donated we were able to raise an amazing $11,000 to help families with cancer. The day was beautiful, the golf was good, and the food was delicious. A special thanks to everyone who made this day possible, especially all the members of the golf committee who donated their time, and energy, without complaint. You are all truly amazing people, and we are blessed to have you in our lives. Please check out the website int he next few days to see pictures from the golf outing and the 5k. www.djdfighton.org

Mindy :)

Milton 5k...

Ok.... so it POURED Saturday morning, but that didn't rain on our parade... We were expected about 150 participants, but the rain scared them away. We had 60 participants total and raised around $2,100 for the foundation, so we were pretty pleased with that! The rain and mud made for a fun time for the runners, but there were a couple of people who took a spill (I won't mmention any names). The first 3 male finishers were Josh Criswell, Evan Lee ( a current Lycoming basketball player!), and Bradley Boyer. The top three women finishers were Christa Dieffenderfer, Tressa Porchet, and Tara Michaels. I will post pictures of the event soon!

On Sunday, I went and spoke to a youth group in McClure, Pa. The youtyh group was the one who raised the money for the chemo ducks. It was an amazing expereince to talk to these youth about Derrick, and share with them the message he hoped one day to share with young people. This group is such a wonderful group of young people, and I am honored ot have met them. Check out the website djdfighton.org for pictures from the talk.

On Saturday, I collected a ton of blankets from Cherie Chism and her friends for the Camp Dost program and the pediatric transplant patients at Geisinger. Thanks again Cherie!

Anyone interested in ordering a 5k shirt, please let me know!

Don't forget the golf tournament is this Saturday, and I hear the weather is suppossed to be beautiful, I hope they are right!!! Also, the 5k in the Akron park is coming up soon. I will post a link to download applications soon! Have a great week!

Mindy :)

Golf Tournament...

The golf tournament is quickly approaching! We are still accepting registrations for golfers, just try to mail in your form as soon as possible. If you can email me at fightondjd@gmail.com to let me know you are sending in the application, so we can account for you. Also, if you are not into golfing, you can just come to the dinner and silent auction for $25. It is a great time to come out and catch up with friends and family to support a great cause. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Thanks!

Mindy :)

Golfers...we need you sign up now :)

1st Annual Fight On Golf Tournament on June 27, 2009
Sponsored by:
Friends, Family and Community of Derrick Dull

To be held at:
The Manor Golf Course
153 Bran Road
Sinking Spring, Pa 19608
610-678-9597
Saturday June 27, 2009
Scramble Start Time 1:00 PM

$80.00 per Person
Includes: Greens Fee, Golf Cart, and Range Balls
Registration starting at 11:30
Dinner to follow afterwards at Pavilion
Corporate Sponsorships and Hole Sponsorships also available.
Sponsorship registration deadline date: June 13, 2009
Join us for a day of golfing and fun to remember a friend and support a great foundation!
Event will fill up quickly, so please send in your registration fee promptly!
For more information call: Chris Harmes 738-0861 / Steve Burridge 738-9121
Event to be held rain or shine
Proceeds from this event will go to help the Foundation help others defray costs from this disease.

Marathon, Speech, and Derrick's Birthday....

First of all, I wanted to update everyone on how the marathon went. It was one of the best experiences of my life. There were soo many people there cheering along the course and the bands made it so fun. Around mile 16, I got the "runner's high" till about mile 2o. I remember thinking to myself, "This is so awesome!" As I ran past Derrick's best friend, Nick O. at mile 19, I felt so good I told him to tell my mom, "I can run all day baby!" Needless to say that didn't last the whole time! around mile 22 there was this hill that totally kicked my butt, but I kept going! My aunt and I made a great team and we finished the race together in 4 hours and 24 minutes! At that point, I said "I'm never doing this again, this is crazy." By the next day I was already planning my next marathon! San Diego was great, Nick had just officially moved out to San Diego that week, so it was great to have a familiar face. He showed us all around the city ( Thanks Nick!). Total the Team in training raised $9 million this marathon for leukemia research, and $10,000 of that was raised by my aunt and I, so thank you everyone who supported us!!!! You can check out the finish of the race by going to this site http://www.rnrmarathon.com/elite/webcast/sd/archive.html

You can see pictures of me running at this site
http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=45790&BIB=13383&LNSEARCH=1

On Friday, I spoke at an ACS Fight Back ceremony. It went pretty well. I was glad my mom, Casie, and Jim and Donna were there for support.

Saturday morning I ran in my first ever 5K. The 5K was to benefit cancer patients, and I decided to do it, because the families were so generous last year and helped Derrick and I out. It was a lot of fun, but was definitely more fast paced than the marathon. I finished first in my age group, and 7th overall out of the girls in 23 minutes and some odd seconds.


Saturday was Derrick's 24th birthday. Jim and Donna spent the weekend with me, so it was so nice to be all together. We missed Marcy, but she is packing up at school for the summer. We had a cookout with my family and friends. We had two ice cream cakes, because last year Derrick told me that after his transplant he now had two birthdays, so he deserved two cakes!!! We had a really nice time and the weather was beautiful!!!! This week, I started reflecting on what has happened in the last year. I think I (today) am in really good space. I am trying not to be as angry about what happened, and I am just so thankful to have met Derrick, and got the priviledge of knowing him for five years. In that way I feel so lucky. Thanks everyone for your support over the past 6 months, let's all continue to remember what Derrick has taught us all: Count our blessings, thank God, cherish every moment, tell your family and friends you love them, and most of all let's all keep fighting on and fighting back for ourselves and for Derrick.

I will update on my marathon in the next coming days, but today I felt it was much more important to let everyone know about the passing of two really special people. I got a call Sunday night from Mary Beaver to let me know that at around 5:30 on Sunday her husband passed away. The Beavers are the first family that the organization helped. They are a very special and wonderful family. Please pray for Mike, Mary, their five children and all their friends and family.

Many of you may remember a loyal follower of Derrick's blog who called herself one mother with cancer. She always commented on how even though she didn't know Derrick she gained strength and inspiration from him. She was able to keep a positive outlook as she was searching for a bone marrow donor. She passed away yesterday following complications from her recent transplant. Please keep her friends and family in your thoughts and prayers.



* Always remember to count your blessings*

Golf Tournament!!!!

The first Annual DJD Fight On Foundation Golf tournament will be held this year on June 27th with the scramble start at 1:00. The tournament will be held at:
The Manor Golf Course
153 Bran Road
Sinking Spring, Pa 19608
610-678-9597

For anyone who might have missed out last year this was a TON of fun for everyone. $80.00 per Person
Includes:
Greens Fee, Golf Cart, and Range Balls
Registration starting at 11:30
Dinner to follow afterwards at Pavilion( dinner will include barbecued chicken and roast beef)

For more information call: Chris Harmes 738-0861 / Steve Burridge 738-9121
Event to be held rain or shine. Also you can download the application from the foundation website at djdfighton.org

On the website you will also find more information on how you can sponsor the tournament or a hole. We are also accepting silent auction donations.

Please consider attending or helping out this great cause. This will be the foundation's main yearly fundraiser, along with the 5Ks, meaning there will only be 3 fundraisers per year ( unless someone sets one up on their own). More and more people are being diagnosed with cancer each day and more and more people are finding it difficult to meat the expenses incurred with cancer treatment. Please help fight back and fight on, so cancer patients and their families can focus on getting healthy. Your help and support means more than you could ever imagine to those battling this disease. Thanks everyone!

Mindy :)

Faith means don't panic.

Marathon

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. I spent the weekend with Jim, Donna, and Marcy for her her birthday. I can honestly say it was one of the best weekends I've had in awhile :) It seems the time is upon us when my aunt and I are about to embark on our 26.2 mile adventure. What seemed like ages away when I began training in February is now days away. I will be heading to Baltimore Thursday night and flying into San Diego on Friday. The race begins at 6:30 am on Sunday, which will be 9:30 our time. if you are interested you can watch me finish the race live via the internet at http://www.rnrmarathon.com/home.html I hope to make you all proud, and once again thank you so much to everyone who supported me in my efforts to raise money. thanks to your support I was the #3 fundraiser!

Mindy :)

Blog

Just wanted to pass along the blogsite of the family the foundation helped. The address is

http://mnmbeaver.blogspot.com/

Have a great weekend!

Marcy's Drive.... A BIG success!!!

Just wanted to update everyone and let you know that thanks to the efforts of Marcy and her wonderful friends 170 new people were added to the bone marrow registry. That is a HUGE turnout! Great job Mar! <3 Love you!

Marcy's Bone marrow Drive...

I will keep everyone posted on how Marcy's bone marrow drive goes today. We are all so proud of her :) I wanted to attach the link to the article that was in the Ohio University paper.

http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=28316&TM=41645.89

Mindy :)

Bone marrow drives

Tomorrow marcy and her friends are hosting a bone marrow drive at Ohio University. The bone marrow kits are free, and Marcy and her friends have put a lot of hard work into it, so I hope they have a great turnout!!!!

The second drive is an e-drive that is being sponsored by a friend of Derrick and I's, Duane Bailey Castro. He is a stem cell transplant survivor. Here is the information he emailed me about the drive.

-Like so many, I've been moved by six-year old Jasmina's desperate search to find a matched unrelated donor. For her aggressive form of leukemia, a bone marrow transplant holds the only hope of a cure.

Kai, who is four-years old, is also suffering from leukemia. He too is searching for a life-saving donor.

These two remarkable, resilient kids have inspired me. I contacted DKMS, which is coordinating the donor search for both Jasmina and Kai, to find out how I may be able to help. The result is this e-donor drive.

So, I need your help. If you're healthy, I hope that you will register to become a bone marrow donor. Even if you are not found to be a match for Jasmina or Kai, you may be the single hope that someone else has been waiting for. It only takes one person to save a life.

As the fortunate recipient of an anonymous donor's selfless generosity, I can speak firsthand about how critical this period is right now to these two precious kids and their families.

In order to register as a donor you must first check to see if you are eligible, then you must read about the commitment involved to ensure that you understand what it means to register as a bone marrow donor.

Once you have done this, send an email to info@dkmsamericas.org stating that you are eligible and understand your commitment. Please include the following drive code: DBC001.

Though I have not yet had the great honor of meeting the individual, who saved this stranger's life, I hope our paths will cross in the not-to-distant future. Just think: you may be the match for Jasmina, Kai, or someone else. Please spread the word!

Thanks,
Duane



The last bone marrow drive, I found out about today. At the Midwest Relay for Life from 5:30- 9:30 they will be having free bone marrow kits for anyone interested in signing up! I just got the official word today, and I was so excited! The National Marrow Donor program is going to be there and they are using Derrick's logo for their advertising. I will also be speaking at the Fight Back ceremony @ 7:30, which will be in conjunction with the marrow donor testing, which I feel so honored to be asked. I will be talking about the inspiration of Derrick and ways people can fight back against cancer!

Lots of News and Updates...

Hello, hope everyone had a great weekend. I had a great time visiting Marcy this weekend in Ohio. First, be sure to check out the website at www.djdfighton.org for new updates and information. In other news,a friend that Derrick and I met in NYC, Duane, recently wrote an article that was published in the New York Times! Here is the link to the article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/nyregion/thecity/03rive.html?ref=thecity. We met Duane, because he also had a stem cell transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and he was a big help to us! Please check out this talented writer/photographer's article! Today I am meeting with the McClure Trinity Youth group who fundraised $400 for the chemo duck program in honor of Derrick. I am excited to meet them and thank them personally for their hardwork. In the next few days I will be posting some updates about the Youth group on the website.

I was recently contacted and asked to post some information about an upcoming fundraiser to benefit a local man who is having a stem cell transplant. Here is the information:

SPAGHETTI DINNER

May 30

2pm-7pm

Watsontown United Methodist Church

Menu: Pickled Cabbage, Spaghetti, Italian Bread, Dessert & Beverage

Cost: FREE WILL OFFERING

As many of you know, Bill Phillips has been undergoing many medical procedures since January. As of July, he will be “out of pay”.

Bill & his family have been waiting to find a Bone Marrow donor match. The search has been narrowed down to several possible donors. Soon the procedure of chemo will start again to prepare him for a Bone Marrow transplant. During this he will be at the Philadelphia Hospital for 4-6 weeks. After his hospital stay, he will need to remain in the Philly area for 100 days due to the possible rejection from the transplant. There is housing offered by the hospital for the 100 day stay at the cost of $50 per day.

A benefit dinner will be held on May 30 to help compensate for the housing cost that will be endured. How can you help?

• Prayer – For everyone who has and will help those in need
• Donations - watch for details in the weekly bulletins
• Volunteer – Help will be needed for the meal (advertising, table setting, food prep, cooking, serving, clean-up, etc.)
• Attend – Plan on coming that evening for the meal
• Share – Let others know the details so they can come for dinner
• Prayer – For the Phillips Family, Physicians, and Donor

I was also contacted and asked to post some prayer requests. the first one is for a little 6 year old boy named Tyler who was diagnosed with leukemia and is receiving treatment at Hershey Medical Center. The next prayer is for Mike Beaver. He is the man that the foundation helped pay for some living expenses. Mike and his wife Mary just found out that his cancer has spread to his bones, lymph nodes, rib cage, and liver. Please pray for both Tyler and Mike and their families.

Lastly, in just a few short weeks, I will be running the marathon. I am happy to say that I have officially reached the $5,000 mark! It will be posted on my marathon website in a few days.

Meet the Beaver Family....

Today, I went to meet with Mary and Mike Beaver and their children. The Beavers are the first family that the DJD Fight On Foundation has helped. the Beavers are a wonderful and loving family. This was the first time I was able to meet their five adorable children and the first time I saw Mary since moving into their own home. When I first met the family they were living with her parents in a small trailer with 9 people in it. The family was in the process of obtaining housing and needed some furniture to get started. That's where we jumped in to help. Unfortunately today I was not able to meet with Mike, because he was in the hospital all last week with a collapsed lung. He now has a chest tube in, which makes it difficult, if not impossible for him to move due to him needing a wheelchair or cruches since he is an amputee. Mary wrote a letter to let everyone know just how important the Foundation's help has meant to her family.


Hi there! My name is Mary Beaver. I live in West Milton with my husband and 5 young kids. My husband's name is Michael Beaver whom is fighting a rare form of cancer called "angio sarcoma". Michael was diagnosed in August of 2008, and soon followed an amputation of his left leg about mid calf. Friends and family put on a fundraiser to help cushion the blow of gas bills, chemo treatment, and the purchase of a new van. That is how I met Mindy. Mindy wanted to know how she could help out. We were at the time living with my mom and dad. So I had told her that we were looking for a house but had nothing as far as furniture. She is the founder of the Fight On Foundation, which between them and Mindy they helped my family get a living room suit, a dining room suit, and dressers for all 5 of my kids. Mindy and her foundation are an awesome group of people who are willing to help with anything anyone might need.

Mary Beaver

Judi...

Just wanted to update everyone, that yesterday I found out the Judi Sweigart passed away. She is the woman who had open heart surgery three weeks ago, and was doing very well, but Thursday night she was taken to the emergency room and Friday morning she went to be with the Lord. That is all the information I have at this time, but I just wanted to ask you all to pray for Judi, her husband Craig, and all of their family and friends. Judi was a beautiful woman on the inside and out. She was so caring and thoughtful, and she and Craig were two of the biggest supporters of Derrick and I, and Derrick's family as he went through his treatment. We could always count on at least a card a week from Judi and Craig, and their thoughtful messages always brightened Derrick's day.


God Bless you Judi....
Our thoughts and prayers to Craig, the family, and all of their friends...

Recent News...

Just a quick update to let everyone know that I recently got an email from a youth group near me. They read all about Derrick and the chemo duck program, so they decided to have a soup sale and candy sale. They work along with an organization Thrivent for Lutherans who matches the funds raised for certain things, so needless to say over $400 was raised for chemo ducks. This email left me speechless, since these young people did not know Derrick, but they were still inspired by him to help out. I haven't heard back from about a specific hospital, but I am thinking we will be taking on maybe one or two more with this donation. I am so excited and happy that there are so many wonderful people out there who are willing to help out. I will be meeting with the youth group within the next couple weeks, so I will keep you all posted. I will have the shirt orders this week, so those of you in the Ephrata area you will have them Sunday! I still have some white shirts left, so let me know if you are interested. Here is a poem I read today that reminded me of something Derrick might say:
S L O W D A N C E:

Have you ever watched kids
on a merry-go-round
Or listened to the rain
slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic
flight
Or gazed at the sun into the fading
night?

You better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

Do you run through each day on the
fly
When you ask "How are you?"
do you hear the reply?

When the day is done,
do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow
And in your haste, not see his
sorrow?

Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
'Cause you never had time
to call and say "Hi"?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting
there.
When you worry and hurry through your
day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away...

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Half Marathon

Me... a lil tired after the race...


Just wanted to let everyone know that today I finished my first half marathon! It was definitely tiring. I really wish someone would have told me about all those hills!!!!! I ran with a friend from college and we finished in 2 hours and 1 minute which is pretty good considering the hilly terrain. I have a lot more training until the marathon on May 31st! If you check the marathon fundraising website, you will see I am at 117% of my goal! If you don't see your name listed under the Thanks section, it is because you wrote your check out to me or paid in cash. I had to write one big check out from my account for all cash and personal checks. I still have 165 to send in, plus the $80 registration I paid to join isn't listed but goes towards my total, so this means I am within like $200 of my $5,000 goal. Thanks again everyone for supporting my marathon. We have dates set for the Fight On 5K in Ephrata (July 25th), The 5K in Milton ( June 20th), and the Golf Tournament (June 27th). As far as fundraising for the foundation is concerned these will be the yearly ones we will have. It has been kind of crazy here in the early stages with the marathon, chemo ducks, and beef and beer benefit, but that will all settle down and the foundation will focus on these yearly. Also, some people have expressed interest in settign up their own fundraiser sint heir hometowns, which I am totally ok with too. But just wanted to let you knwo the three the foundation will be doing, just so everyone doesn't get bogged down with events!!! I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!!!!!

Mindy :)

Newsflash....

Hello! Just wanted to drop by with some more updates. I met with the Tina and her daughter Kylie from Kelsey's Dream today. Thanks to more generous donations we are taking on the Tomorrow's Children's Institute in Hackensack, NJ with chemo ducks in honor of Derrick Dull and little Hudson Rinker!!!! I still have more ducks left, so I will be looking into another hospital in NJ as well. Tina also mentioned that Kelsey's Dream is collecting blankets for Camp Dost which is a camp for children with cancer and their siblings. Each year Kelsey's Dream provides blankets for these children. Derrick's grandmother and great aunt made a beautiful blanket already, which Tina loved! ( Thanks MA MA). Let me know if anyone is interested in helping make a blanket or two, I know some of you really enjoy doing this as a hobby. Here is some information about Camp Dost
http://www.kelseysdream.org/DreamstoReality/CampDost/tabid/69/Default.aspx

In other news, I found out today that yet another person from my bone marow drive in May got called to be a bone marrow donor ( that brings us up to 5 so far!) so I was really excited to hear about this! Also if anyone didn't have a chance to attend the marathon benefit and would still like to donate you can check out my fundraising page at http://pages.teamintraining.org/cpa/rnr09/mdull I just mailed in the money from the benefit, so that won't be posted on the website for a week or so. I am up to 15 miles now, and I am doing my first half marathon this weekend. Also, check out the Ephrata review tomorrow, there is suppossed to be an article about Derrick in this week's edition or next week! Hope everyone is having a great week, and I can't thank everyone enough for their generosity!!!!!

Mindy :)

Marathon Benefit Update!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who donated and attended the marathon benefit dance. It was more than a success. Thanks to the generosity of all of you, my grand total including the benefit and my online donations brings me to $ 4570!!!!! That means I met my race goal.....BUT.... I am not stopping there, since this is probably my only fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society (since the Foundation will support families with cancer, not organizations), I want to go out with a bang! I am going to try to raise $5,000!!!!! I am running a half marathon on Sunday with my friend from college. This week I am also meeting with the family we purchased furniture for, to take pictures of the man and his family. I talked to his wife today and they love their new furniture. Mike especially like the new recliner, because it is often difficult for him to be comfortable since his leg amputation. Also, please continue to keep praying for Judi Sweigart, but please keep praying for her and her family's strength during her recovery!!!!!! Just finished the bylaws today for the Foundation, so we keep moving forward. I will keep everyone updated on upcoming events. You are all so wonderful!!!!! Lots of Love!

Mindy :)

More updates and prayer request...

Hey everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying the first full week of spring! First, I'd like to ask for your prayers for Judi Sweigart and all the Sweigart family. Judi is a loyal blog reader and a friend of the entire Dull family. She had open heart surgery yesterday, and she is doing well, but needs continued support and prayers. I am so excited to see all those of you who are being called as potential bone marrow matches. Please keep us all posted!!! I can't wait to see some of you at the benefit this weekend!

Bone Marrow Drives

I just wanted to pass along some information that I received about an upcoming bone marrow drive at Lycoming College. Here is the link. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=67100780&ref=mf#/event.php?eid=55439786138&ref=nf

So in addition to Marcy's drive, there is now another one in honor of Derrick! He'd be sooo happy!!

In other news keep your eyes open the next couple of weeks to get information about the first family that we are going to be helping. They are a wonderful family, and I am so excited to get started. We got approved from Hershey Medical Center, and we will be receiving referrals from their social work program for oncology patients who need financial assistance! The date for the golf tournament has been locked in for June 27th! So there are a lot of things happening!!

On the marathon front, I had to take some time off because of a cold, but I have a 15 mile race I am participating in on Saturday, which is apparently an extremely hilly course. So I'll keep you posted on how it goes! Hope everyone has a great week!

Mindy :)

Just a little note...

We just had a really nice meeting to discuss the possibility of having a golf tournament for the foundation again this year. Everyone from the committee was interested in having it again, since it was so much fun last year! I just wanted to let you know that the tournament is tentatively scheduled for June 27th, so mark your calendars if you want to play!!! More details will follow!

Mindy :)

Video...

Thank you to everyone for supporting the chemo duck program. I still continue to be amazed by the wonderful people who support the foundation, Derrick's memory, and all of us everyday! Please watch this video to see how meaningful this program is to children with cancer.

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=af4da6fde2edadc98978


Thanks!

Mindy :)

Updates...

Sorry I haven't updated lately!!! I just wrapped up my first online class, woo hoo, and just got home from a great weekend visiting Marcy In Ohio for Jim's birthday!!! The four of us had sooo much fun! I have been working really hard getting things organized with the foundation. I have met with the attorney, and she is currently filing all the necessary state and federal paperwork!!! All the details for the dance are pretty well set. I still have more tickets if anyone is interested! We have got some really great donations for the silent auction. I also have some fight on gear still for sale! In marathon news, I got up to 11 miles last week! A big accomplishment for me. I am going to try to up it a little this week, but we will see because I have a cold. As you all know we have covered Delaware and West Virgina with chemo ducks. The foundation is getting a very generous donation from baby Hudson's family towards more chemo ducks in honor of Derrick and Hudson, so with the new donation and some extra ducks left over, we have enough to take on another state!!!!!!!!!! Keep checking out the website, because i n the next few days there will be some new features, including an area where you can post stories about Derrick and an area where you can leave comments. We have recently added a counter so we can tell how many people have visited the site! Also, could everyone pray for a little girl named Sarah L. and a little baby Riley Brilliant. Here are their websites http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/saral http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babybrilliant

God Bless,

Mindy

Marathon Dance...

There were a lot of questions about the upcoming marathon get together on March 28th. It starts at 5:30 which starts a social cash bar. Following that there will be food ( different kinds of meatballs, wings, veggies, chips, and pretzels). There will be a d.j. playing all night along with a cash bar, silent auction, and 50/50 raffle. It should be a lot of fun, and a chance for people to get to know one another. The dance is being held at the Parkview which is literally steps from my apartment, so if anyone needs directions let me know. Tickets are $20, so let me know in advance, because tickets are limited. Have a great week!

Mindy :)

More Updates!

I just got an email from one of my really good friends, who signed up at my bone marrow drive, that she has also been contacted to be a bone marrow donor for someone. This is such exciting news! I am so glad that because of Derrick, so people will have a second chance! Marcy is going to have a bone marrow drive at her school in Ohio. I hope she gets a HUGE turnout. An update on marathon training... I was able to run 8 miles ( in a row hahah!) for the first time. I will try 10 miles this weekend, and before long I will be at 26.2!!!! I have a LONG way to go! Let me know if you'd like a ticket to the benefit party for the marathon. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

In other news, I got really sad news today that the little boy, Hudson passed away. Please keep his family in your prayers, as I am sure thsi is a very difficult time for them.

Check out the website!!!!

Hello everyone! Check out the website for new pictures from the beef and beer benefit and new upcoming events!!!! It's djdfighton.org I still have more shirts, hoodies, and wristbands!!!!!!!


Mindy :)

Updates, News, and Prayer requests...

I hope everyone had a good weekend and a great Valentine's Day!!! I wanted to update everyone on some great news, a man who signed up to join the bone marrow at my drive last May got called to be a bone marrow donor for someone!!!!! I also wanted to ask for your prayers for two families I have been following who have been touched by cancer. The first one is a little boy named Hudson who has neuro blastoma. The cancer keeps spreading so now they are trying experimental treatment. I believe he is only three years old. The other one is a young man named Matt, whom Derrick and I became friends with in NYC. He had his transplant a week before Derrick. He is having some complications and has to start chemo again. Please keep both Hudson and Matt and their families in your thoughts and prayers. I also wanted to let you know that along with Delaware, the state of West Virgina is now covered with chemo ducks in honor or Derrick Dull!!!! Thanks everyone for your support. I still have more ducks, so I will be picking up another hospital in another state. I also wanted to pass along my website for my team in training marathon site. Check it out! I am still taking orders for shirts, hoodies,and wristbands! Have a great week everyone! http://pages.teamintraining.org/cpa/rnr09/mdull

Lots of love!

Mindy

Website Info... djdfighton.org

Hello! I hope everyone had a great weekend! I spent the weekend with Derrick's parents and we had a GREAT time. They came to Lewisburg for the ice festival, so we hung around the apartment for the weekend. The website isn't completely done yet, but I couldn't wait any longer to share it with everyone. There will be lots more pictures added, a comments section, pictures of the fight on gear, and upcoming evvents, but check out what I have so far at djdfighton.org In other news, I still have lots of Fight On merchandise for sale. It is my goal to have as many people as I can wearing Derrick's logo as a reminder to everyone about how amazing he was!!!!! I called West Virgina last week to get their count for the number of ducks, but haven't heard back yet. We might have enough to cover that state already too!!!! Also, in other news I just signed up to run my first marathon. It is to raise funds for leukemia research. It is 26.2 miles long and is in San Diego California. Based on the fact that I've only got up to 5 miles so far on the treadmill, I have a lot of training to do! I will keep you all posted on how it's going!

No eye has seen, nor ear has heard , no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

- 1 Corinthians 2:9

Beef and Beer Benefit was a HUGE success...

Saturday started off with a bang, because when I went to get my mail, I got an envelope all the way from Atlanta Georgia with Derrick's friend Lauren and her coworkers purchasing 12 more chemo ducks! From there I knew it was going to be a great day! The benefit turned out amazing. Thanks to everyone's support, donations, and help organizing the Fight on Foundation and Kelsey's Dream raised $2,000 for the chemo ducks!!! This means Delaware is covered and we are on to West Virginia! thanks to everyone there will be so many children with smiles on their faces! I know Derrick was smiling down on all of us too! The benefit was a lot of fun and a great reunion with family and friends of Derrick. It was filled with good food, music, and drinks! I will update more when I have the exact totals but I wanted to give a quick update. I can't thank everyone enough once again. Cancer does not discriminate who it affects. It affects so many people and families. Even though we can't help everyone, to know we can help even a few, help someone smile, help someone relax and not stress about paying medical expenses it makes it all worth it. I know the happiness that everyone's support gave to Derrick and I and the entire Dull family and I can't wait to help make someone else's day a little better. Keep an eye out for the website coming soon! There are still plenty of shirts, hoodies, and wristbands left!

- We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

- Romans 5:3

Just checking in... (and directions now too!)

Just checking in to let everyone the latest on the foundation. I have an appointment set up to sign the paperwork to get the foundation it's non profit status, so I am pretty excited. I look forward to seeing some of you at the Beef and Beer benefit on Saturday. With the kind of support we are getting, it is possible that we may be able to also take on West Virgina for chemo ducks and Kelsey's Dream! If you can't make it to the fundraiser you can order t-shirts, sweatshirts, or wristbands through me at fightondjd@gmail.com. The website is coming along nicely and hopefully will soon be ready. Once it is up and running, I will have a pictures section that I'd love anyone who is interested to email me pictures of you with Derrick or pictures of Derrick. There will also be a link where you can add a story or personal message about Derrick. Hope everyone has a great week and stays warm! Here are two links to articles in the local paper....


http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_027214503.html

http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_027101344.html


Lots of Love!

Mindy

Directions for Beef and Beer Benefit

Finnigan's Wake is easily accessible from all areas of the Greater Philadelphia area. There is plenty of safe, on street parking early in the evening. Valet parking is also available.

From Ben Franklin Bridge
Make the first right possible coming off the bridge (5th Street). Make right on Spring Garden St (2 blocks). Continue to 3rd.

From Walt Whitman Bridge
Make the first right possible after toll booths on to I-95 north. Take Penn's Landing Exit. At light, make left turn onto Columbus Blvd, pass under Ben Franklin Bridge, make left at Spring Garden Street. Proceed to 3rd Street.

From N.E. Philly & Bucks County
Exit I-95 southbound at Callowhill Street exit. Make right at bottom of ramp (Callowhill Street). Make right at traffic light (3rd Street). F.W. is one block ahead.

From Western Suburbs
Take I-76 onto I-676. Exit I-676 at 8th Street Exit. At bottom of ramp continue forward one block. Make left at light (7th Street). Make right at Spring Garden. Continue 4 blocks to 3rd Street

Mass Transportation
Finnigan's Wake is also easily accessible to mass transportation. We are located only two short blocks from the Spring Garden Station of the Market-Frankford Elevated Line. The Market-Frankford Line intersects the Broad Street Subway, Reading Terminal, and 30th Street Station.

www.finnigans.com/directions

Benefit...

I just wanted to add that tickets can be purchased at the door for the beef and beer benefit. I know a lot of you had questions about that. I also wanted to let everyone know that there will be Fight On shirts, sweatshirts, and wristbands available for purchase at the event. I also have order forms for these items. I set up an email address for the foundation fightondjd@gmail.com and I am currently working on setting up the website. Gooooooooo EAGLES!!!! ( and I guess the Steelers too! haha).


Mindy

Beef and Beer fundraiser....

For anyone interested, I now have the information about the beef and beer fundraiser that two of my friends, Alicia and Jill, set up in Philadelphia. Here is the link to the information. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=53037279046 If anyone has any questions, please feel free to email me mculp10@yahoo.com Just a reminder this fundraiser is working in conjunction with Kelsey's Dream. the money raised will go to purchasing chemo ducks for pediatric cancer patients. The state of Delaware is Derrick's Fight On state! Pennsylvania is already covered.

-Beef and Beer Benefit-

Date:	Saturday, January 31, 2009
Time:	4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location:	Finnigan's Wake
Street:	3rd & Spring Garden Street
City/Town:	Philadelphia, PA

Thanks to all those who have already sponsored a duck! Also, please check out an article from today's paper. Here is the link http://standard-journal.com/articles/2009/01/08/news/doc4966299b14b1e386406052.txt

Mindy Dull

Chemo Ducks...

As I mentioned in the last post, I am in the process of setting up a non- profit organization for Derrick, which will benefit local families with cancer. This is a lengthy process, so in the meantime I am working with a wonderful woman, from my area who started a non- profit organization in memory of her beautiful little daughter who passed away also from leukemia.The name of their organization is Kelsey's Dream. They do many wonderful projects each year. The first project of the Fight On Foundation is to purchase a year supply of chemo ducks for a pediatric cancer hospital in Delaware. Kelsey's Dream has already taken care of Pennsylvania, so we are moving on to other states, trying to cover the United States with chemo ducks. The fundraiser at the end of January in Philadelphia ( more info coming soon!) will go towards purchasing some of the ducks, but also anyone who wishes can adopt a duck, and put a chemo duck in the arms of a child with cancer for $20. If you sponsor a duck, you will receive a certificate from Kelsey's Dream, that you placed a duck in the arms of a child to benefit Kelsey's Dream and the Fight on Foundation. My aunt purchased one in Derrick's name for me for Christmas, and it was the most thoughtful gift, that it was helping someone else! If anyone would like to adopt a duck, please contact me by email mculp10@yahoo.com or at 421 Market Street Lewisburg, Pa 17837. The ducks are tax deductible, so if you want to write a check, you can write it out to Kelsey's Dream and mail it to me. Just make sure you provide me with who you purchased the duck in honor of, so I can send you the certificate. Hopefully, we can sponsor enough ducks to cover the state of Delware, and move on to the next, while continuing Derrick's legacy, and fighting back against cancer. Please check out Kelsey's Dream for very accurate information ont he chemo ducks, the amazing work Kelsey's Dream is doing, and an inspirational video on how the ducks are used. The website is http://www.kelseysdream.org/DreamList/ChemoDuck/tabid/107/Default.aspx Make sure to check out all the links on the site! Please also check out this video on the ducks... http://www.gabesmyheart.com/video.html

On a side note, I just want to say thank you to everyone for all the support that I and the entire Dull family have received. I wish I could personally call or send a letter to everyone thanking them, but at this point it is a little overwhelming. I just wanted to let everyone know how wonderful it is to receive cards and messages of support and talking about how wonderful and inspiring Derrick truly was. Thank you all so much!

Mindy Dull