Rick Snider Help Fund

Hi! My name is Nik and I am fundraising for my dear friend, Rick Snider. I have known Rick for 25 years as the person everyone relies on but who never asks for help for himself.

Rick is an army veteran (‘85), a cat lover, a table top gamer, and an amazing artist. He inspires creativity, story telling and hard work in every interaction.

During COVID lockdowns, Rick started The Flashback Music Zone to help keep all of our spirits high by sharing music for our group 250 friends.

Rick is a light in his corner of world and if it’s within his power, he would lighten the load of anyone.

Then came cancer in December 2021: it took a while to find what was causing the confusing symptoms he suffered: from cognitive decline to fatigue and balance issues. The diagnosis was so elusive that when the doctor discovered thyroid cancer, we felt relief to finally have a diagnosis and a treatment plan. Surgery was scheduled in November 2022 and we were all full of hope of full recovery.

Unfortunately, even after surgery the symptoms continued and worsened. Rick’s immune system was fighting so hard that he was diagnosed with Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration, which is the body attacking the brain to cause vision loss, motor skill challenges, uneven gait and other life interrupting symptoms.

Through specialists at UNC Cancer, they finally found the underlying cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Today, Rick is still unable to work with severe neuropathy in hands and feet, ongoing balance issues along with heart and breathing problems. Unbelievably, his application for social security disability was denied in December 2023 and his savings have run out.

He needs your support to help him financially make ends meet until the SS attorney can appeal and win his case. He has been out of work since December 2021.

No one battling cancer should have to fight for or be concerned with financial and living accommodation stability nor fight the government for a benefit paid into and earned.

#ArmyVeteran #Cancer #fightcancer #supportVeterans