2 posts tagged “elisabeth hoover”

In typical style I was a bit behind schedule on signing up and sending out my fundraising emails. I finally got my act together on Wednesday night, registering with the acsevents.org site and importing my contact list into the system. Despite a few hiccups (make sure you copy and paste your address list and messages in progress into a backup file if you're doing this sort of thing!) I was able to get an email out to about 200 people, very late on Wednesday. The text of the email is below. I didn't pull any punches; I wanted anyone who bothered to read it to know that contributions to the ACS are going to help keep other mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and daughters alive. I don't think I've ever sent such a blunt request for help.

The next morning at 6:30 I checked my mail and noticed a few contributions, amounting to about $350, already coming in. Not too bad! And then there was this message... from some friends. Can't say who. Marrried couple, let's call them Mr. & Mrs. X.

Mr. X, an accomplished businessman and noted philanthropist, made me an offer that I could not refuse. Would it be OK with me if the Xs offered to match -- $2 for every $1 -- any contributions I got from that point forward?

Uh, what? What do you say? Of course I said, "Heck yes it's OK with me." I sent out another round of email (actually, two rounds; #@%$#* ACS site truncates messages with any ampersand '&' in the text) and made sure that everyone knew the enhanced power of this fully operational fundraising battle station. That was Thursday morning.

As of now, with the matching window closed, my fundraising total for the walk is over $9,000. In two days. TWO DAYS. As a team, Heidi and I have pulled ahead of all the other teams for this walk. Granted, it's our first year doing it, and we have not been going to the well repeatedly as others may have done. But seriously, two frickin days.

I'm indescribably grateful to the Xs and to the scores of contributors -- many of whom I've not seen or talked to in years -- who made this tribute to a remarkable woman a remarkable reality. I'm amazed and awed.

Here's what I sent out.

Hi.

I apologize for the impersonal "form letter," I apologize for asking for money, and I apologize for the late notice. I am acting out of need.

As some of you may know, my mother-in-law Elisabeth Hoover was a 24-year survivor of breast cancer following her original diagnosis in 1984 and subsequent metastases in the 1990s and 2000s. On August 25, Elisabeth finished her battle with the disease that she had fought with courage, grace and extraordinary force of will for over a third of her lifetime. While my older daughter Hannalina had the priceless opportunity to build a memorable relationship with her beloved Oma, it is tragic that Elisabeth's four younger grandchildren will not have the same chance. My wife Heidi, her brother and sister, and their father are all bereft.

We know that Elisabeth's powerful journey of survival, sickness and healing was extended and supported by the work of the American Cancer Society, in particular the Capitol Region Unit in Harrisburg, PA.

We want to do everything we can to help keep other mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters and friends from having to leave their loved ones too soon.

On October 15th, Heidi's 36th birthday, our family is participating in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Making Strides is a non-competitive walk that takes place in more than 100 cities across the country (not the same as the recent Avon 2-day, where my mother walked a remarkable 50 miles across New York City in the same cause). Making Strides has no registration fee and no fundraising minimum; however, many American Cancer Society breast cancer programs depend on the donations collected by Making Strides participants.

I'm asking you to please support our family's efforts to encourage research, support and treatment trials with a donation of ANY amount. Could you send five dollars? How about $10? More is welcome but the slightest bit will help in many, many ways.

Some of you I see every day; others I have not spoken with in years. I hope all of you remain well. Thanks so much for your support.

--Mike

Click here to visit my personal fundraising page.

A month ago, my mother-in-law Elisabeth Hoover died of metastatic breast cancer, 24 years after initial diagnosis. She was much beloved by her children and grandchildren, and will be much missed. The photo to the right is from her final visit to Brooklyn, blowing bubbles with daughter #2 in the backyard.

Heidi has posted extensively on her mom: http://rebheidi.vox.com/library/post/mom-died.html

זֵכֶר צַדִּיק לִבְרָכָה
"The memory of the righteous shall be for a blessing." (Proverbs 10:7)