Making a Way For Mark

Hey there!

Thank you for visiting the fundraiser for Mark's medical fund! Mark and his wife Tracey live in North Carolina. Their generous and outgoing personalities lead them to always put others before themselves, even while dealing with enormous challenges.

Here's why we need your help:

Mark Blanchard has been battling the hardships and symptoms of ALS for several years since his diagnosis in 2009. For those unfamiliar with ALS, it is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that causes a disconnection between the person's brain and muscle functions. ALS patients lose the ability to walk, work, and grasp objects, among other things we all take for granted. Unfortunately, there is no cure for ALS, leaving Mark and Tracey to treat the symptoms of this horrible disease the best they can, one day at a time.

The average out-of-pocket cost for caring for an ALS patient is around $250,000-$300,000. Currently, Mark and Tracey need a wheelchair-accessible van that costs upwards of $80,000-$100,000. This is a cost they cannot work around and have to face shortly. The funds raised will go towards their overall medical expense fund, focusing on the cost needed for the van.

Close friends of Mark and Tracey have come together to set up this fundraiser. It took only moments to decide to take action for our friends. Mark’s spirit and perseverance are such a testimony to his strength. Tracey is an amazing support and caregiver to him, and together they exemplify true endurance. None of us like to ask for help, and this is especially hard for people like Mark and Tracey, who prefer to serve others. They are genuinely humble and sacrificial at heart. Their faith in Christ is remarkable, and they inspire anyone they meet. Believing that no situation is hopeless because their hope is grounded in Jesus is the guiding force that leads them through their challenges.

Join us in helping fill this need for Mark and Tracey. There is so much we cannot do for them as they navigate this disease, but this is one thing we can do, rally support for them financially to help alleviate some of the fear and stress this burden brings.