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 :)