Greg's Fund: Stage IV Colon Cancer
Donation protected
Greg Vaughn has always been the kind of person to support others. In 2007, he started a non-profit organization called Strides of Pride where he would run marathons and ultra marathons with the American Flag to honor fallen military and first responders. He would then donate the flag and race medal to the families. While doing this, he touched many lives with many positive results, and raised over $55,000 to support various military and first responder charities. To date, he has run 97 marathons, and 17 ultra-marathons of 100-miles or more.
After a long career with FedEx, in 2016 Greg set out to own and operate his own chain of frozen dessert stores. As with many business owners, he spent the first year and a half working without pay to grow the business. By mid-2017, Greg began experiencing symptoms of this horrible disease - cancer. Greg came to the obvious conclusion that these symptoms were not going to go away and he consulted his doctor who immediately ordered a colonoscopy. As a result, it was swiftly determined that it was indeed stage IV colon cancer, and it had spread to his lymph nodes and liver. Unable to continue working, he made the painful decision to close his business at the end of 2017 and concentrate all of his efforts on fighting his cancer.
Within a matter of weeks of his initial colonoscopy, he had surgery to remove the baseball-sized tumor and part of his colon. After recovering from this surgery he began chemotherapy which, as many know, came with horrific side effects. He stayed strong throughout, but financial hardship continued to grow, yet at that time Greg was adamantly against starting any kind of fundraising page. After completing eight rounds of the chemotherapy, Greg then returned to surgery to remove a portion of his liver where the cancer had spread. If anyone knows anything about liver surgery, it is extremely painful and the incision quite large. This was not an easy one by any means but, Greg persevered and has been recovering in a very positive way by posting each day on Facebook about his struggles and triumphs. He does everything he can to educate others about colorectal cancer and the need to be screened.
Thankfully, he continues to recover but is still unable to work at this time due to the effects of chemotherapy. He will also very likely need to make a career change. Greg will have his last round of chemotherapy on 7/25/2018 and it will be a wonderful day for him and his loved ones (see update 2 below). However, almost overshadowing the joy is the cruel fact that he has not been working and is struggling financially. His medical bills have exceeded $1.3 million in insurance coverage, and $23,000 out of pocket as of July 2018, and continue to grow. He also faces a lifetime of scans and tests every three months to ensure that the cancer hasn't returned. Greg's 11 year-old daughter, Brylin, will also have to be watchful, and will likely face a lifetime of tests as well.
Just as Greg's initial mission with Strides of Pride was to help support others, the purpose of this page is to give back and help Greg. Any amount given will be very much appreciated and needed by him. Thank you for your time.
Betsy Fromm-Vaughn
#ToLife
After a long career with FedEx, in 2016 Greg set out to own and operate his own chain of frozen dessert stores. As with many business owners, he spent the first year and a half working without pay to grow the business. By mid-2017, Greg began experiencing symptoms of this horrible disease - cancer. Greg came to the obvious conclusion that these symptoms were not going to go away and he consulted his doctor who immediately ordered a colonoscopy. As a result, it was swiftly determined that it was indeed stage IV colon cancer, and it had spread to his lymph nodes and liver. Unable to continue working, he made the painful decision to close his business at the end of 2017 and concentrate all of his efforts on fighting his cancer.
Within a matter of weeks of his initial colonoscopy, he had surgery to remove the baseball-sized tumor and part of his colon. After recovering from this surgery he began chemotherapy which, as many know, came with horrific side effects. He stayed strong throughout, but financial hardship continued to grow, yet at that time Greg was adamantly against starting any kind of fundraising page. After completing eight rounds of the chemotherapy, Greg then returned to surgery to remove a portion of his liver where the cancer had spread. If anyone knows anything about liver surgery, it is extremely painful and the incision quite large. This was not an easy one by any means but, Greg persevered and has been recovering in a very positive way by posting each day on Facebook about his struggles and triumphs. He does everything he can to educate others about colorectal cancer and the need to be screened.
Thankfully, he continues to recover but is still unable to work at this time due to the effects of chemotherapy. He will also very likely need to make a career change. Greg will have his last round of chemotherapy on 7/25/2018 and it will be a wonderful day for him and his loved ones (see update 2 below). However, almost overshadowing the joy is the cruel fact that he has not been working and is struggling financially. His medical bills have exceeded $1.3 million in insurance coverage, and $23,000 out of pocket as of July 2018, and continue to grow. He also faces a lifetime of scans and tests every three months to ensure that the cancer hasn't returned. Greg's 11 year-old daughter, Brylin, will also have to be watchful, and will likely face a lifetime of tests as well.
Just as Greg's initial mission with Strides of Pride was to help support others, the purpose of this page is to give back and help Greg. Any amount given will be very much appreciated and needed by him. Thank you for your time.
Betsy Fromm-Vaughn
#ToLife
Organizer
Greg Vaughn
Organizer
Overland Park, KS