Call to Courage Jason’s Friends Foundation Semi-Annual Bulletin Published Spring 2017 Our Mission The mission of Jason’s Friends Foundation is to assist Wyoming families whose children suffer from childhood cancers and brain or spinal cord tumors by providing critical non-medical financial assistance, advocacy and encouragement. Impacting Wyoming families Dreams do come true! Since 1996, Jason's Friends Foundation has provided nearly It has been a long time dream of Jason’s Friends $4,100,000 in assistance for non-medical expenses such as Foundation to provide a facility of our own in Denver rent or mortgage payments, utilities, groceries, and travel to comfortably house the many Wyoming families costs for families traveling out of town for their child's that travel there for their child’s cancer treatment. In medical care. collaboration with Brent’s Place, that reality will soon come true for the families we serve. Brent’s Place is building We served 92 families in 2016 and have enrolled an a new structure adjacent to their existing facility. The additional 7 new families so far in 2017. Each of these Jason’s Friends Board has approved a partnership with Brent’s Place for our families Denver lodging needs. This needs while their children battle childhood cancer and partnership will initially provide two fully furnished brainfamilies or isspinal receiving cord tumors.critical assistance Your donation for their to Jason's financial hospitality suites (similar to standard hotel rooms)and one Friends will assure that we are able to provide help for fully furnished 1-bedroom apartment. These rooms will every Wyoming family in our program seeking assistance. be branded as Jason’s Friends rooms, be reserved for the exclusive use of Jason’s Friends families, and will be managed and maintained by the Brent’s Place staff. The Is your child battling cancer? Brent’s Place addition is scheduled to be completed in June. Do you know a family who could use our help? We will start utilizing the new rooms on July 1, 2017. Jason’s Friends is humbled by the support of The Contact us TODAY! Zimmerman Family Foundation who have kicked off this partnership with a grant to cover half of the cost of these Jason’s Friends Foundation rooms in 2017. Thank you Brent’s Place for making our 340 W. “B” Street Suite 101 long time dream happen! Casper, WY 82601 Phone: (307) 235-3421 • Fax: (307) 265-4668 Email: [email protected] Visit us online: jasonsfriends.org Donate online at jasonsfriends.org/donate SinceFeatured 2007, The Great American Friends Cowboy PRCA rodeo has had a special presentation both at their event and highlighted in their program book to introduce and feature a recipient of the Children’s Western Wish Foundation. Logan was the 2016 Children’s Western Wish Recipient at “A Tribute to the Great American Cowboy” rodeo on November 5, 2016. Logan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoid Leukemia on PLEASE JOIN US IN HONORING November 23, 2013 at age 3 just before Thanksgiving. He THESE HEROES WHO ARE was in the ICU, in critical condition. He received multiple bloodwas sent transfusions, via life flight platelet to Denver infusions Children’s and started Hospital. chemo He FIGHTING HARD OR HAVE immediately. They were inpatient for 37 days. The cancer had taken over his little body and the chemo and meds OVERCOME THEIR ILLNESS were not working. The decision was made to transfer him May Birthdays July Birthdays to St. Jude’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN so he would Donovan, 21 – Cheyenne Ethan, 17 – Casper received very aggressive chemo and radiation treatments. Seth, 18 – Rock Springs Jonathan, 8 – Rock Springs have a better chance at surviving this difficult cancer. He Xavier, 18 – Casper Jase, 4 – Casper bone marrow transplant (BMT) in June 2014. Many Ava, 17 – Cheyenne Baily, 15 – Cheyenne complicationsHe finally went followed. into remission Logan, and mom received and 3 siblings a successful were Emily, 13 – Cheyenne Colter, 4 – Evansville Rayshawn, 6 – Rawlins Caleb, 5 – Riverton battle. Dad went back and forth. They have returned for Brayton, 8 – Douglas Scarlett, 20 – Casper follow-upin Memphis 5 timesfor a total and willof 380 continue days fighting to return a very twice difficult a year. Jose, 11 – Rock Springs Mason, 14 – Mills Nykoda, 2 – Cheyenne Kenneth, 5 – Cheyenne Logan is 6 years old and cancer free. Noah, 11 – Rock Springs Carson, 9 – Riverton August Birthdays Dominic, 19 – Casper Derek, 13 – Laramie 6-year-old Logan Oakley, 10 – Casper Lekiesha, 17 – Gillette at “A Tribute to the Thomas, 15 – Sheridan Great American June Birthdays Haiden, 15 – Wheatland Cowboy” rodeo, November 5, 2016. Codi, 20 – Casper Jazmine, 17 – Casper Alexandra, 16 – Casper Clayton, 21 – Casper Chase, 10 – Casper Avaleena, 9 – Sheridan Riley, 20 – Casper Brayde’, 13 – Laramie E.J., 17 – Mills Annamarie, 8 – Cheyenne September Birthdays Linda Chivers with Triton, 7 – Riverton Bailey, 18 – Torrington Jason’s Friends McKenzie, 3 – Green River Carley, 5 – Gillette made sure that EJ Hannah, 14 – Dixon still got to enjoy a Carson, 7 – Rozet Elizabel, 15 – Evansville little part of Bowl for Steven, 18 – Lander Parker, 11 – Riverton Jason’s Friends by Lincoln, 14 – Gillette Billy, 18 – Jackson delivering a bowl Edna, 19 – Laramie Logan, 7 – Bar Nunn T-shirt and pizza to Briley, 7 - Gillette Emma, 14 – Casper him in the parking lot. EJ was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in July 2015. Camp Courage Wyoming will be held August 4-6, 2017 at Crooked Creek Guest Ranch near Dubois, Wyoming. Ten families will be chosen to attend the 5th annual childhood cancer camp. The camp is funded through grants, sponsors and private donations which enable families to attend Camp Courage free of charge. This is a family camp which includes components for the child with cancer, the parents and their siblings. Activities include horseback trail rides, ATV trail rides, disc golf, art projects, horse decorating, parent social hour and Saturday night live music. Itpainting, is a fun hiking,family weekendfishing, movie of recreation night, horse and feeding,camaraderie. cookie Wyoming families whose cancer child is 18 or under prior to camp, whether in treatment or post treatment, are eligible and encouraged to apply. Children without a recent diagnosis as well as long-term survivors are welcome. Applications are jasonsfriends.org/camp-courage. available through the Jason’s Friends office or at Deadline to apply for Camp is June 2nd. Donations can be made directly to support Camp Courage by visiting the Jason’s Friends website jasonsfriends.org, clicking on the DONATE button and selecting Camp Courage as the donation type. “We all share a huge bond with what we have been through.” “No stress - just relaxed with time to talk.” “Very valuable to connect with other families.” “It was a great adventure that we “Didn’t want to leave!” will remember for a long time.” 2017 Bowl for Jason’s Friends On behalf of the beneficiaries of the proceeds, a huge thanks to all who sponsored, donated and participated in the 2017 Bowl for Jason’s Friends. You have made a great impact on Wyoming families whose children suffer from childhood cancer and brain or spinal cord tumors. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS! Corporate Sponsors Forever & Best Friends Sponsors*** 107.9 the River AM 1400 ESPN AMBI/Oil City Printers Casper Orthopedic Associates, Inc. Casper Star Tribune Cercy Family Holdings*** Jason’s Friends Cloud Peak Energy Volunteer Committee First Interstate Bank Christine Robinson, Chairman Greiner Motor Company Hilltop National Bank K2 Radio Linda Chivers, Office Manager K2TV Lisa HeatherEades, Karla Levin, Dundas, Office AssistantEmily Dinkel, Keith R. Mills, MD Tracie Calkin, Toni Billings, Karel Loraas, KFNB-Fox Brenda Hurless, Laura Claunch, Jenny Dundas, KGWC TV 14 CBS Laura Stalkup, Trish Henriksen, Heather Clapp, Kiss FM Ashlie Bohman, Erin Graham, Felicia Cox Lisa Burridge & Associates MeTV Email [email protected] to ask McMurry Foundation*** about volunteering Mountain View Regional Hospital & Clinic My Country 95.5 Peden’s, Inc. Pepsi Peterbilt of Wyoming Pizza Hut R & R Rest Stops Rock 96.7 Rocky Mountain Oncology Rocky Mountain Power Sheet Metal Specialties*** Stifel Nicolaus Team Networks Wells Fargo Bank Thank you to the many businesses Williams, Porter, Day and Neville and individuals that provided prizes Wyoming Machinery*** and auction items! 2017 Bowl for Jason’s Friends Lane Sponsors #1 Properties of Casper/Tina Harper Geneva Woods Pharmacy Wyoming Rod & Laura Stalkup 307 Orthodontics Goolsby, Finley & Associates Rod Barstad’s Paint & Auto Body 71 Construction Gorman Funeral Homes Rodney C. Hill, DDS Advanced Family Dental Greater Wyoming Federal Credit Union Roto-Rooter Sewer & Drain Service Albertsons Honda of Casper RR/C Collision Center American Title Agency Hunting Energy Services Sams Quality Motors ANB Bank ITC Electrical Technologies Schwartz, Bon, Walker & Studer Aspen Ridge Dental Jonah Bank of Wyoming Silver Fox Steakhouse Automation & Electronics Killmer & Associates Skogen, Cometto & Associates Bar-D Signs Kindel Concrete Smile Academy/Braces U Bloedorn Lumber Company Kirkwood Oil and Gas Smith RV Sales and Service Bustard’s Funeral Directors & Crematory Kitchen Connections Sprecher Electric Carpet Creations Kohls Stalkup’s RV Superstore Carpet One Casper Interstate Storage Solutions Sunrise Baptist Church Caspar Building Systems Lamar Advertising Company Superior Signs & Supply Casper Community Foundation Larry & Linda Kloster Taco John’s Casper