Help Marcie's fight against Uterine Cancer

Marcie has been diagnosed with a very aggressive form of Uterine cancer and underwent a radical hysterectomy 11/14. While Marcie is slowly healing, the anticipation of the next phase of cancer treatment weighs heavily on she and Mark. Initially, she will be undertaking at least one year of recovery and intense post-operative treatments—most of which will be in other parts of the state. As you can imagine, this major surgery and the follow up cancer treatments prevent Marcie from working and have created a huge financial cost that keeps mounting.

What funds are for: Unable to maintain her current income, she is facing extreme financial hardship and needs our help. This fundraiser will help with Marcie with lost income, treatment costs, travel costs, healthcare expenses not covered by Medicare, adjunct therapies, and supplies that will get her through any treatments recommended

If you have been in Crested Butte or Gunnison for any duration, you’ve experienced Marcie’s brilliance, dedication and pivotal role in keeping our community connected, soulful and rich with tradition, whether or not you know her by name. Marcie is the founder and godmother of Vinotok, she is a therapist and mentor for countless individuals, families, and spiritual leaders in our community. She works tirelessly to raise consciousness about our natural environment and to preserve it. She is the loving life partner to Mark, 68, who is doing all he can to keep them afloat right now, layering stress and exhaustion atop the despair at watching his 50 year companion battle for her life. They have both created such a spirit of nurture for this valley.

If you are not familiar with Marcie’s work in the Gunnison Valley, here are some of programs and projects she has offered nationally and internationally over the past 5 decades:

• 40-50% of her professional practice is offered probono to ensure access to mental health support around the valley and the southwest.

• Her passion and super power, Cultural Animation, tells the stories of communities organizing for Earth awareness, arts for mediation and seasonal celebrations for people of all ages.

• Marcie founded the Guide of the Order of International Secular Ministers in services to communities in Mexico, Canada and across the US.

• Acclaimed TEDXTalk Presenter--“Transforming Community-Celebrating Our Stories and Spirit of Place”

• Author of the Multi-Generational text ACTING UP! Dramatic Publishing which brings the stories of community elders across the country into Story Theatre, multi-media performance and preservation

• Author of essay “Finding Home: Creating Sacred Space” in the Award-winning collection – RITUAL AND HEALING: Stories of Ordinary and Extraordinary Transformation –

• Awarded Colorado Peace Museum Peace Hero

• International Relationship Expert and Presenter for one of the world’s most-visited Relationship Advice websites--Yourtango.com

As a local and internationally-extended community with so much giving spirit and means, we can make a transformative difference to help Marcie and Mark through this fight to continue to thrive in the community they enrich and have held for us - it is our turn to hold them.

How you can help:

● Help us fundraise $57, 777 for Marcie’s medical bills and give them 3 months of runway. Together we can exceed this amount and give her more time to beat cancer, but we need to raise at least this much as soon as possible!

● Give now if you’re able - the clock is ticking for us to reduce Marcie’s critical stress, let her rest and heal, and save their home.

Many ways to contribute:

○ Go-Fund-Me: https://gofund.me/c4a8af46 (https://gofund.me/c4a8af46.) (or click "ways to help" above)

○ Paypal: [email redacted] (select “Friends and Family” or “Gifts” to avoid fees)

○ Venmo: @MarcieTelander

○ Personal Check by Mail: P.O. Box 1101, Crested Butte, CO. 81224

○ We’re working on a tax-deductible funding option for larger amounts, but please don’t wait if you’re able to help today. Many treatment decisions will be made in the coming weeks, based on financial capacity.

Other ways to help and stay connected:

● Help us with this effort - building a tax deductible funding vehicle or to strategize more ways we can support these pillars of our community to stay strong through this challenge.

● Share this with others who might support - either in connection with their identification with the Crested Butte and Gunnison communities of which Marcie and Mark are so important and beloved, or in solidarity with the fight to help another incredible person beat cancer.

● Support Marcie with nourishing healthy meals by signing up on the Meal Train site: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/lkg28d

● Join the Caring Bridge website for Marcie and stay informed about her ongoing journey, write her a message, sign up for helpful tasks that need doing, and read the latest updates:

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marcietelander

At this time, what Marcie needs most is to go deep into hibernation and focus on her healing sabbatical for the next 3+ months. This means that she needs to put down the phone, close the computer, lock the front door, lie in bed reading books, staring at the river, and talking with the foxes. She will need to really limit her correspondences with her loved ones and request limits in people visiting the house; so that she can truly focus on healing. So-- things like phone calls and stopping by her house can be too much for her as she focuses on healing, and we will all need to redirect that loving energy into other crucial forms of support. The best way to stay connected, get regular updates, send messages, and sign up for support is through her new Caring Bridge Website!

To find out out more about other ways to help or to get alerted with new health updates, please subscribe at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marcietelander

With immense appreciation and love, we are so thankful for your contributions to these pillars of our community.