Facing a cancer diagnosis is a very peculiar thing. No one ever chooses cancer—it chooses you, and takes no regard to race, financial, or social standing. Whether you like it or not it is up to you to deal with it. Facing it has the power to make you pause to rethink even your strongest values and beliefs. You might wonder how you ever ended up this situation because this kind of thing only happens to others. When it happens to your child it is doubly maddening because parents are supposed to protect and not outlive their children, right? I can remember holding my son and thinking that there was a good possibility that he would not live to see his next birthday. This was a very confounding thought. Fortunately against all odds he was able to beat cancer twice and is a testament to the grace of God and of having an abundance support from family, the community, friends and Candlelighters.

This past fall I was diagnosed with a very low grade form of Sarcoma in my chest. The journey began with the suspicion that something just was not right. Months went by with tests, confusing results, and more tests until the diagnosis was delivered. I knew too well the roller coaster of emotions that would follow as treatment options were proposed and considered. What caught me off guard was the uncertainty of this journey. One does not know where it will lead and many mid-course adjustment are made as new information is revealed. The journey became longer for me as more treatment was needed than originally anticipated. I steadied myself as best I could through the emotional swings of highs and lows, as one day looked gloomy, and the next was not so bad. I am happy to say that my cancer is in remission now, and I can focus on much more ordinary things.  

In the coming months I would like to introduce you to some of the people that are essential to the success of Candlelighters. They are a wonderful team of people that keep everything running to meet the needs of the Candlelighters families.

The 2008 Harvest of Hope benefiting Candle-lighters for Children with Cancer would like to thank First Tech Credit Union and Jareda Webb for the first ever $5,000 Gold Sponsorship! Sponsor-ships are critical to the financial success of Harvest of Hope, and we thank them, along with Bronze Sponsors A Cut Above Exteriors, Kuzman Forest Products, Norlift and West Coast Bank for making the commitment early to support this event and of our mission. If you are your company is considering sponsorship, please contact Shelli at s_Volpigno@msn.com.

The Harvest of Hope, held this year at Montgomery Park in Portland, will include wine tasting from local vineyards, a harvest dinner, the introduction of our 2008 Ride-For-A-Child honored children, and a gracious acknowledgment of the generous sponsors who make the evening possible. This year’s event is shaping up to be very special. In addition to offering a wide assortment of auction items, we will also be featuring a gallery of "Visions of Hope" made by local celebrities and artists. It will truly be a unique offering of items!

Starting in May, the government will be mailing out the economic stimulus checks to individuals and families that have filed their taxes. The incentives will range from $600 for each adult and $300 for each additional child. (Before you get too excited, I would encourage you to talk with your tax professional to see if you qualify, as I can assure you, I am not a tax professional.)

To some of you, this money will be badly needed help. To others, it will be an opportunity to help the economy by spending it at the local mall. I, however, would like to suggest using this FREE money to do some good and also receive a charitable contribution towards your 2008 taxes.

Here is the cold reality—Candlelighters is working with over 700 children and their families. In the state of Oregon every other day a child is diagnosed with some form of cancer. For those of you that have experienced this and for those of you who know people that have, there is nothing worse. The emotional and physical costs are huge and so is the economic costs. To date, we have helped over 120 families with emergency funds so that they did not loose their electricity, phone service, and heating. This future economic climate is uncertain, but what is certain is that your dollars can help. You are allowing the families to focus on what is most important—the child and not the bills.

I encourage you to help if you can. Please make a tax deductible donation.

Make checks payable to Candlelighters: P.O. Box 2277, Portland OR 97208-2277 or go to www.4kidswithcancer.org and make a credit card donation online.

Regards,

David Saltzman, Vice President Development