Dana Eicke Memorial Fund

Hello everyone, my name is Ron Sammond Jr. Rich Eicke is a good friend of mine and he and his two young sons, Owen and Jax, just lost their wife and mother Dana. Dana developed ALS (Lou Gehrigs Disease) just a few short years ago and unfortunately succumbed to this terrible, incurable sickness. I don't have the proper words to honor Dana, so the following is copied from Rich's Facebook page:

In April 2020 Dana was officially diagnosed with ALS.

Last weekend Dana was checked into St. Luke's Hospital with respiratory issues due to what we thought was initially a common cold.

Today, May 19th, 2023, Dana was given relief from this terrible disease - as per her wishes. She was surrounded by family through it all, we stood by her side as she finally let herself find peace.

We spent many months prior to the diagnosis awaiting test results, MRI results, blood tests. Hoping every time that something would show up, or something would be wrong because something wrong can possibly be made right.

Over the last 3 years Dana showed me what bravery in the face of adversity looked like. At no point did she ever feel sorry for herself or want anyone to feel sorry for her. She fought so hard for so long, she wasn't going to let this disease stop her from loving her boys with everything she had and making all the memories she could with us, with her tribe, with friends. She was a force and a source of inspiration, even working up until February of this year before it finally became too much and even then she was looking for ways to go back. She wasn't going to slow down until she absolutely had to.

She is my hero, my heart, my best friend, mother of the two greatest gifts to have ever been given to me in Owen and Jax. Her light will shine on, her spirit runs through those boys, and her love will keep me grounded in the days, weeks, months and years to come.

Please, everyone who reads this, if you can pitch in to help cover funeral costs, meals for the Kids, Rich and his Mom, whatever they may need great! If not, that's ok too, but I beg you, use the power of social media AND SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE. Rich and Dana touched the lives of everyone they met, let's show them the power of the human spirit that returns showed loved a thousand fold. Let's show Rich, and Dana, that we have their back. Whatever it takes, we got you Rich.

Whatever it takes.