Mark Bendon's Cancer Fight
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Mark Bendon Fundraiser - His Fight With Cancer
How often have you heard from friends that they or someone they know have been stricken with cancer? How often have we said a silent prayer for the individual and yet another one thankful that it wasn’t one of our family members or friends. These stories show how quickly, in the blink of an eye, our lives can change, often without warning.
Sadly, that is what happened to my co-worker and friend Mark Bendon.
Mark was diagnosed in April 2015 with Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer. After many tests and procedures Mark was told that the cancer had metastasized to his liver. Having known Mark for the past 19 years there is one thing I know about him and that is this, “He is a fighter” and he has chosen (in his own words) “to kick cancer’s ass”. Like most people diagnosed with cancer Mark has a lot to live for. Mark and his wife Katrina have four children and seven grandsons. In fact his grandson Owen Ryan had just been released from the hospital, when Mark received his diagnosis. Just as his family members were saying prayers of gratitude for Owen Ryan’s hospital release, they were hit with the devastating news that their Father and Grandfather had cancer. As I said Mark is a fighter and he is bravely fighting this battle so he can continue to watch his family, especially his grandchildren grow. Mark also wants to show others that you can beat this disease and that you don’t have to be another statistic.
Mark’s treatment plan has included aggressive rounds of chemotherapy and radiation at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia. This required Mark and his wife to travel from their home in Maryland to Philadelphia these past 6 months for his treatments while staying in a hotel and occasionally returning home on the weekends. As you can imagine the travels costs just for Mark to receive these treatments is extremely high, especially since he has not been able to work and most recently finding out that his short term disability period has ended.
The travel costs are just a portion of the debt that Mark and Katrina are incurring, there are thousands of dollars in medical bills that continue to accumulate for procedures and tests that the health insurance company will not cover. One can only imagine the stress that this is putting on Mark and his family as he continues to fight his battle with cancer.
As many of you know stress associated with any traumatic event can cause additional health problems and affects an individual on both an emotional and physically level. Mark and his family have certainly had their share of emotional, and mental stress as a result of his diagnosis, now add to that the financial burden Mark and his wife are facing and the stress increases exponentially. This stress and worry can have a devastating effect on Mark’s journey to wellness and in his ability to be able to physically and mentally fight this battle.
Mark is determined to win his fight and is doing everything he can to stay strong and beat this disease, all while enduring the awful side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. He is still trying to maintain a somewhat normal life, but he needs our help.
That is why I am asking all of my co-workers who work with Mark at Salice America, and all of the distributors and cabinet makers who work in our industry to please help Mark. Any donation you can provide will go directly to Mark and his wife to help ease their financial burden. This support no matter how small or large will provide some much needed stress release from the worry of mounting medical and travel bills and the stress of not being able to pay for prescription medication not covered by insurance. I am also asking if you would please forward this to your network of friends, family members, and business associates who may be able to help in some small way. Finally I am reaching out to the general public for help. I am asking those who have fought similar battles or know a family member or friend who may have fought the devastating effects of cancer, for your help. You know first hand how important it is to focus on fighting the battle and staying strong. You know first hand how important releasing stress and staying positive is in order to win the fight.
PLEASE HELP MARK so he can focus on getting well and he can win his fight.
EVERY DONATION - NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR LARGE WILL HELP.
Let’s show Mark we are here to help him win his fight.
Let’s give Mark, his wife Katrina, his children and grandchildren, the gift of peace during this difficult, stressful time.
How often have you heard from friends that they or someone they know have been stricken with cancer? How often have we said a silent prayer for the individual and yet another one thankful that it wasn’t one of our family members or friends. These stories show how quickly, in the blink of an eye, our lives can change, often without warning.
Sadly, that is what happened to my co-worker and friend Mark Bendon.
Mark was diagnosed in April 2015 with Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer. After many tests and procedures Mark was told that the cancer had metastasized to his liver. Having known Mark for the past 19 years there is one thing I know about him and that is this, “He is a fighter” and he has chosen (in his own words) “to kick cancer’s ass”. Like most people diagnosed with cancer Mark has a lot to live for. Mark and his wife Katrina have four children and seven grandsons. In fact his grandson Owen Ryan had just been released from the hospital, when Mark received his diagnosis. Just as his family members were saying prayers of gratitude for Owen Ryan’s hospital release, they were hit with the devastating news that their Father and Grandfather had cancer. As I said Mark is a fighter and he is bravely fighting this battle so he can continue to watch his family, especially his grandchildren grow. Mark also wants to show others that you can beat this disease and that you don’t have to be another statistic.
Mark’s treatment plan has included aggressive rounds of chemotherapy and radiation at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia. This required Mark and his wife to travel from their home in Maryland to Philadelphia these past 6 months for his treatments while staying in a hotel and occasionally returning home on the weekends. As you can imagine the travels costs just for Mark to receive these treatments is extremely high, especially since he has not been able to work and most recently finding out that his short term disability period has ended.
The travel costs are just a portion of the debt that Mark and Katrina are incurring, there are thousands of dollars in medical bills that continue to accumulate for procedures and tests that the health insurance company will not cover. One can only imagine the stress that this is putting on Mark and his family as he continues to fight his battle with cancer.
As many of you know stress associated with any traumatic event can cause additional health problems and affects an individual on both an emotional and physically level. Mark and his family have certainly had their share of emotional, and mental stress as a result of his diagnosis, now add to that the financial burden Mark and his wife are facing and the stress increases exponentially. This stress and worry can have a devastating effect on Mark’s journey to wellness and in his ability to be able to physically and mentally fight this battle.
Mark is determined to win his fight and is doing everything he can to stay strong and beat this disease, all while enduring the awful side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. He is still trying to maintain a somewhat normal life, but he needs our help.
That is why I am asking all of my co-workers who work with Mark at Salice America, and all of the distributors and cabinet makers who work in our industry to please help Mark. Any donation you can provide will go directly to Mark and his wife to help ease their financial burden. This support no matter how small or large will provide some much needed stress release from the worry of mounting medical and travel bills and the stress of not being able to pay for prescription medication not covered by insurance. I am also asking if you would please forward this to your network of friends, family members, and business associates who may be able to help in some small way. Finally I am reaching out to the general public for help. I am asking those who have fought similar battles or know a family member or friend who may have fought the devastating effects of cancer, for your help. You know first hand how important it is to focus on fighting the battle and staying strong. You know first hand how important releasing stress and staying positive is in order to win the fight.
PLEASE HELP MARK so he can focus on getting well and he can win his fight.
EVERY DONATION - NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR LARGE WILL HELP.
Let’s show Mark we are here to help him win his fight.
Let’s give Mark, his wife Katrina, his children and grandchildren, the gift of peace during this difficult, stressful time.
Organizer and beneficiary
Rick Horn
Organizer
Troy, NY
Mark Bendon
Beneficiary