When someone wants to donate a boat to help DD&BCF raise money, then we say okay! Please join us for food and entertainment on Saturday, September 1st (11am-4pm) for Haulin’ to Heal. We’re thrilled to be working with AFT Logistics and you can use the contact information below to inquire about further event details!
We are stoked to announce that we will be vending at the 2012 Chowderfest Merchant’s Mart! As a new member of The Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, and under our beautiful, new DD&BCF tent, we’ll be selling all sorts of David’s Dream threads to help raise more funds for NJ cancer patients in need! Please come and visit us on Saturday, September 29th in Beach Haven, NJ!
Our largest fundraiser of the year, Crabbin’ for a Cure, has a date set ~ October 24, 2012. We’ll have (2) seatings @ 5:30pm & 8:30pm and believe us, these tables will all be booked very soon! Please contact us via info@davidsdreamandbelieve.org or by calling Mud City Crab House @ (609) 978-3660 to lock in a table for this wonderful event!
We were recently introduced to Heather Von St James. We told her we would share her story as well as some information below regarding mesothelioma.com
Community members often vow to help a family raise a child. My pregnancy progressed without complications until the time of delivery, at which time I required an emergency C-section. I gave birth to my baby on August 4th, 2005. Immediately after her birth, my family and I were surrounded by parents, siblings, and numerous friends. We were thrilled to introduce our new daughter, Lily. Everything was wonderful. However, this was only the calm before the storm.
After a pleasant maternity leave, I returned back to work. I felt fine except for increasing fatigue that eventually left me with no energy. I also had difficulty breathing. I assumed that my body required more recovery time, but I made an appointment with my physician for a professional opinion. I endured a battery of tests before physicians arrived at a conclusion. I received the life altering news on November 21, 2005. I was diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. A malignancy caused from exposure to asbestos. I learned I had suffered exposure three decades earlier, but it took that long before the symptoms began to show.
Physicians told me I had less than 15 months to live if the condition went untreated. I thought about my baby girl growing up without a mother. I thought about my husband raising her alone. Given the potentially fatal diagnosis, my husband and I agreed upon immediate radical treatment. We boarded a plane for Boston. Trusting the expertise of the oncologist, I had my affected lung removed in February. The surgery and recovery required that I spend three weeks in the hospital. After another eight weeks of recuperation time, I began chemotherapy followed by radiation. I did not perceive that my adult life and starting a family would be without tribulations, but this was far more traumatic than anyone could have anticipated.
My husband and I could not have survived without the assistance, care, and thoughts of family and friends. People we barely knew, or had not seen in years, stepped in to help where we needed it. Ironically, those we depended on the most failed us in our time of need. While my husband and I spent the required time in Boston, Lily stayed with her maternal grandparents. A network of caring people stepped forward to assist them too. Children I cared for as an adolescent, and now grown, gleefully offered to babysit while my parents worked. We received loving support from people I had known as a child. New friendships developed as we met families enduring the same nightmare. The people who enveloped us were the ones who sustained us daily.
Time passed, and my baby was growing quickly. I missed seeing her take that first bite of food and learning to crawl. My parents, back in South Dakota, kept us abreast of Lily’s progress through emails containing black and white photographs. My loving husband located a printer and provided me with copies that I proudly shared with hospital staff. I fought back the tears at not being able to hold her, but kept reminding myself that in the long run, Lily would have her mother. I knew she was receiving the best of care and probably getting a little bit spoiled. Lily and my parents remain close though many miles lie between us.
Though I would prefer never to have suffered from mesothelioma cancer, the lessons along the way make us that much stronger and thankful. My little family and I now treasure life, as we appreciate its delicacy and unpredictability. We also learned to accept the bad with the good because undesired events and tragedies often bring a mountain of blessings.
Heather Von St James is a 43-year-old wife and mother. Upon her diagnosis of mesothelioma, she vowed to be a source of hope for other patients who found themselves with the same diagnosis. Now, over 6 years later, her story has been helping people all over the globe. She continues her advocacy and awareness work by blogging, speaking and sharing her message of hope and healing with others. Check out her story at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.
Dear Friends,
David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation (DD&BCF) would like to use this semi-annual update to inform you of a major change to our mission statement. Also, we have news from our 2 major sponsors JETTY and Mud City Crab House. Please see the list of upcoming events and the 6 attachments. DD&BCF would like to welcome all of our newest supporters to the Foundation and thank the ones that have been with us from the beginning because we would not be able to help our patients/families in need without all of YOU!
First and foremost, it was unanimously agreed upon and approved at the annual Board of Director’s meeting that we revise our mission statement as follows: David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds to provide financial assistance to families affected by a cancer diagnosis to help them offset the costs of physician visits, treatments, medications, lodging and transportation. We have removed the research funding portion of our past mission statement. It is our belief that DD&BCF is best suited for helping those patients/families burdened by the financial strains of a cancer diagnosis. This belief is driven from the heart of our founder, echoed by its directors and confirmed by our growing army of supporters/sponsors! We remind you of a quote from our founder that he read a while back, “Kindness is the Shadow of God in Man”! Once again, these examples of GIVING are only made possible by the large shadows being cast by our supporters! The 3 examples below are just a small glimpse of our renewed mission towards patients/families.
GIVING:
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Gilbert Gottfried:
Longshot’s restaurant and bar in Waretown, NJ is kindly donating all proceeds from the 10:30 comedy show of Gilbert Gottfried on
Saturday July 14, 2012. Please see attached flyer for details and contact us directly for tickets at info@davidsdreamandbelieve.org
JETTY Coquina Surf Jam:
Simply put, this event last year breathed new life and positive energy into the Foundation and it’s a distinct possibility that DD&BCF would not be here today had it not been for this 2011 event. This is a female surf contest that benefits DD&BCF which in return donates gift
contributions to local breast cancer patients in need. Please see attachments regarding this event including a press release, sponsorship form and flyer. We would ask that you consider sharing this press release and flyer with your friends and business associates. Also, please consider becoming a sponsor for this great event whether it is a t-shirt, business or new this year (In Honor – In Memory) real estate signs which will be displayed on the beach.
Girls Night Out & Live Bachelor Auction:
September 2012. This is currently a work in progress. Please contact our Secretary Joyce DeGregorio joyce@davidsdreamandbelieve.org
with any questions, suggestions or bachelors?
Crabbin for a Cure:
This event was born out of a dinner amongst some friends at Mud City Crab House and within 30 days “Crabbin for a Cure” took place and in excess of $17,000.00 was raised for DD&BCF. This far exceeded our wildest expectations and has quickly become a signature event for
DD&BCF along with the JETTY Coquina Surf Jam and now our Cruisin for a Cure. We have been receiving requests for tickets as soon as the day after last year’s event. Co-owners of Mud City Crab House Melanie & Eric Magaziner and Bob & Gina Nugent have opened up the tickets for this year’s event. Please see the attached Crabbin letter from Melanie and sponsor forms. We would ask that you consider sharing Melanie’s letter and our sponsor form with your friends and business associates. Tickets for this year’s event are going to sell out rapidly!
Lastly we are committed to help those patients/families burdened by the financial strains of a cancer diagnosis. However, our commitment is only fueled by the generosity of our individual and corporate sponsors. Please take a minute to share the attachments in this email with your contacts, find us on Facebook and visit our website for updates on giving.
SAVING LIVES BY FIGHTING CANCER TOGETHER!!!
We’re proud to announce another great comedy show in conjunction with Longshots Bar & Restaurant! This time Gilbert Gottfried will be tearing up the stage! Tickets are $25 and the proceeds benefit our Foundation. We have 75 tickets to sell and they are going fast ~ this will be a sold out venue so please contact us (info@davidsdreamandbelieve.org) for tickets now!
We ventured out to help more dreamers & believers today! On top of delivering some financial assistance, we were also able to bring pizza (Joeys’ Pizza & Pasta) & Crab Cakes (Mud City Crab House) thanks to two, local businesses who always support DD&BCF!. Please remember that attending our events and supporting this 501(C)3 charitable organization is what allows us to help so many people! Check out AJ & Nicholas…they looked pretty stoked!
After a hugely successful inaugural event in 2011, we’re happy to announce that Crabbin’ for a Cure will go down again on October 24, 2012 at Mud City Crab House. DDBCF, Mud City & Jetty worked together last year to put together this event in less then one month and the results were astounding as we raised over $17K in one night! This year, the event will run in a very similar fashion with two dinner seatings @ $50/plate. Below please find information on sponsoring this fund raising event:
CRABBIN’ FOR A CURE
Event Date 10-24-2012
CRABBIN’ FOR A CURE SPONSORSHIP
The sponsorships will allow your company logo to be present on the Crabbin’ for a Cure long sleeve shirt and support an amazing cause. Donations cover all event related expenses: long sleeve high quality shirts, food, wine & beer, entertainment, insurance, etc. The following sponsorships are available:
PLATINUM SPONSOR (1):
$2000.00 includes 12 tickets to the event, 12 event shirts, wine for your table, the platinum sponsor will be the only logo on the sleeve of the shirt, and recognition in all media advertising, as well as being listed on both the DDBCF & Mud City websites.
GOLD SPONSORS (2):
$1000.00 includes 6 tickets to the event, 6 event shirts, wine for the table, predominant logo placement on back of shirt, recognition in media advertising
SILVER SPONSORS (4):
$600.00 includes 4 tickets to the event, 4 event shirts, & company logo on back of shirt
T-SHIRT SPONSOR:
$150.00 includes your family name/business name on back of shirt and 1 event shirt
SPONSORSHIP: Check one
PLATINUM $2000 GOLD $1000 SILVER $600 T-SHIRT $150
Business Name:_________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________
City, State, Zip:__________________________________________________
Contact Name:__________________________________________________
Phone Number:__________________________________________________
Email:_________________________________________________________
Fax this form to Melanie @ 609-978-3662 to hold your space
Please make checks to: DDBCF or David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation
Mail along with this form to DDBCF 28 Magnolia Road, Manahawkin, NJ 08050
Email company logo to Jeremy@jettylife.com
If you have an auction item you would like to donate please email Ginna Nugent at clamz50@aol.com
The 4th Annual Jetty Coquina Jam will take place on August 4th at Hudson Avenue in Harvey Cedars, NJ. David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation will be a major part of the event again this year and the beneficiary of all funds raised. The funds will go directly back to local cancer patients in need as they did in 2011 when we were able to aid three LBI-area residents with over $7500 total! We will be posting sponsorship information and more details for this event very soon ~ stay tuned!
