Tim's Ride for Sawyer 2020

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The coronavirus has changed the way we live these days and Candlelighters’ Ride For A Child has had to change as well. Cycle Oregon - our annual fundraising rallying event has been cancelled this year. Unfortunately, the treatments and the bills and the grinding reality of families dealing with cancer continues as usual. Only now there is the extra complication of Covid-19 to manage as well.

Our group of riders want to continue the Ride for A Child fundraising tradition while putting up miles on our bicycles (550 and counting so far for me) in order to help these Oregon/Washington families fighting cancer. Once again, we have seven honored children currently undergoing treatment that will represent the face of all the kids that are battling this relentless disease. We will stay in touch with these children through postcards and emails as usual but will be unable to meet with them in person this year as in years past.

Candlelighters’ mission is to help out families with childhood cancer in facing the emotional and financial burdens of the disease. They have done extraordinary work on behalf of these families. Please go to Candlelightersoregon.org for additional information.

My high school friend Dick Hartung started Ride For A Child 20 years ago after his 9 year old daughter Jill passed away from Ewing’s Sarcoma. Many of you may remember his story. He is participating in - and inspiring - our efforts once again this year. We raised $225k last year and are at nearly 3.5 million dollars now since Dick started this in honor of Jill.

Please consider enriching the life of a child battling cancer by once again supporting Dick, Jill, all the honored children and me on this ride.  I hope to raise $7500 in support of this worthy cause.  Whatever you can send will be used wisely and greatly appreciated.  Thanks for your help.

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Your Support Provides:

• $25 - Provides a special snack to 100 kids in the hospital from the Candlelighters Snack Cart.

• $100 - Provides bereavement support to families who come together for a celebration of life events.

• $250 - Provides families with an opportunity to connect monthly to lessen isolation and better cope with childhood cancer.

• $500 - Provides emergency financial assistance to a family battling childhood cancer to help monthly expenses.

• $1,000 - Sends a family of four to Candlelighters Family Camp. Each year we take 300+ family members to camp for a weekend of family support and activities

For those who wish to donate by check, mail checks to: Candlelighters For Children With Cancer 6600 SW 92nd Ave, Suite 160 Portland, OR 97223

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The impacts of childhood cancer across Oregon and SW Washington are staggering:

• Over 200 local children are diagnosed with cancer each year

• Over 1,000 local children are in treatment at any given time

• 75.7% of families with a child battling cancer have at least one parent who needs to cut back on work or stop working all together.

• The average # of years for pediatric cancer treatment is 3

Since 1977, Candlelighters has supported more than 85,000 family members and is still the only local organization that provides for the ENTIRE family throughout the life long journey of childhood cancer. Families depend on Candlelighters to provide comfort in the hospitals through catered family meals, a 24/7 food pantry, and a weekly snack cart. Others rely on Candlelighters for monthly family experiences, emergency financial funding, Candlelighters Family Camp and bereavement support. And, they never charge families a dime—ever!