On Wednesday August 24th, during the Lemont Cruise Night Car Show, you have a chance to save a life.

For the past 10 1/2 years you have joined me in making a difference right here, right now. Often it is acts of compassion as simple as a note, baked good, yard work, a meal for someone who has stepped off the path of normality and plummeted into chaos, pain and despair. Tomorrow is one of those rare opportunities that we have to save a life. I hope you will help me spread the word to anyone who might be interested in learning more about the organization "Be the Match" and the partnering of Hope and Friendship's Team Compassion and "Be the Match" working together to hopefully locate a donor that will save the life of one someone in our corner of the world.

My simple goal for Wednesday night's Be the Match event at our Lemont Car Show is to save a life. You may be the match that helps to meet that goal. Someone here in town is one of those on the list of those waiting to find their match.

About our Brian…

Brian
was first diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 1999, as a junior on
college. After 8 months of treatment which included 6 rounds of
chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant, he beat the cancer
and moved on with his life. In September 2007, Brian married his high
school friend and love of his life, Kate.

On the tenth anniversary of his first diagnosis, Brian learned that his
cancer returned. He and Kate put their plans for starting a family on
hold, and Brian underwent another 5 months of treatment. After more
chemotherapy and another stem cell transplant, Brian’s disease was in
remission.

Because of his commitment to finding a cure, Brian accepted a nomination for
the Leukemia and Lymphoma society’s 2012 Man of the Year campaign.

"When I was 19, I didn't want to be defined by cancer,"

Brian said in reference to being nominated for the Man of the Year award. "I never
brought it up in conversation, and it was something I wanted to move
past. When I got my second diagnosis, I thought there was some reason
for me to have to go through this twice, and that it would be a waste
not to share my story."

In only 10 weeks, Brian, Kate and team held 16 events and raised over
$102k for LLS! Brian’s team had the most fundraising success, and he
won the “2012 Man of the Year” title! Bri then went on to become an
employee for LLS, eventually being promoted to his current position of
Senior Advocacy Manger for patients and their families.

In February of 2014, Brian and Kate welcomed beautiful twins, Avery Brian
& Vivienne Marie. They lived in the city until late 2015, but
quickly outgrew their condo in West Town.

Brian and Kate purchased their home in Lemont in April, 2016, and absolutely
love it! Kate says: “Lemont is a beautiful, friendly community, and we
are so happy to be raising our family here!”

Soon after moving to Lemont this past spring, Brian was diagnosed with
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for the third time in 16 years. He is again in
need of a stem cell transplant, and is in desperate need of a donor.

Please help Brian, and the 14,000 others who require a transplant from outside
their family, by visiting us at the BeTheMatch drive at the August 24th
Lemont car show. A BeTheMatch representative will be on hand to
address any questions. You can literally save a life by donating stem
cells or bone marrow, which is a relatively simple process.

If you cannot attend the drive and would like to help, you can register online at

https://join.bethematch.org/HelpBrian.

Hope and Friendship Team Compassion will be creating Cancer Ribbon pins as
well. Please stop by and visit out table near the Lemont Chamber Of
Commerce booth (just west of the Main St/Lemont St intersection) Wed Aug 24th 6-9pm.

A rain date for the special Emergency Vehicle Car Show and our Be the Match event has been set for next Wed August 31st 6-9pm.

Wishing you peace,
Terri

Terri O’Neill-Borders

Email- terri@hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com

Website- www.hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com