We've Got Brandon's BACC

Would you support a coworker in need?

Richard is our coworker. Richard is a lot more than our coworker. Richard is our friend, and he’s a part of our work family. If you’ve ever had a decent job and worked with great people, you understand.

Richard needs some help. Specifically, the help is not actually for Richard. It’s for his family. It’s for his 12-year-old son, Brandon, battling cancer. It’s for Brandon’s very protective twin sister, Racheal, doing her best to fight this battle with him.

Brandon is many things to us. He is a son. He is a brother. He is a twin. He is a smart and lively young man who is fighting to have the chance at a future. The last time he came to visit our work family he regaled us with an impressive amount of detail concerning the Allies’ WWII battle fleet capabilities. He’s incredibly smart, and friendly, and curious. And he has a form of bone cancer that has already taken something from him; an amputation below his knee. We are fighting for that to be the last thing cancer takes from him.

Richard is one of the most patient and soft-spoken people you will ever meet. You would never know he lost his first wife, the twins’ mother, when they were only 4 years old. Brandon and Racheal have now also lost the closeness they once had with their stepmother. Richard has been going it alone, for more months than any of us are comfortable admitting. He always puts others before himself – including us - and asks for nothing in return. This is our chance to give back to him in a time he so very much needs our help.

Richard has been out of work, a single dad taking care of Brandon and Racheal, for six months. Keeping up with his 6-acre farm has become unmanageable on his own as his obligations continue to pile up. He is Brandon and Racheal’s sole caregiver and Brandon’s only transportation to Brenner Children's Hospital. He is home schooling Racheal because they cannot risk exposing Brandon to even normal germs and viruses. The unexpected failures of his HVAC and water well pump added up to thousands of dollars in unplanned expenses.

Now he is in the situation of having to pack up and sell his farm to get the kids closer to the rest of his family. As much as Richard is trying to take care of everything and everyone, his own health has been severely impacted, having lost close to eighty pounds. He has received financial assistance from our company, but has exhausted short term disability coverage, paid time off, and vacation days donated by his colleagues. He is also receiving help from cancer support groups in North Carolina, but his finances are running out and he needs our help now.

Richard is constantly concerned about their basic survival needs, paying their mortgage, utilities, and debts, and covering the non-medical expenses related to helping Brandon through this battle. He is facing a total loss of income, and the medical insurance for Brandon's treatment is in jeopardy once his FMLA runs out. The pressure to meet their basic needs, pay mounting bills, and provide emotional support for his children is almost more than one man can bear.

This is where we can make a difference, and I’m not just talking to Richard’s coworkers. I’m talking directly to you. We aim to raise $75,645.00 to alleviate the financial strain on Richard and his children. These funds will replace Richard's lost income during Brandon's surgery and chemotherapy until he has recovered enough for Richard to return to work. They will also help cover unforeseen expenses related to the cancer. And most importantly they will bring a glimmer of hope and joy to their lives.

When the financial goal is met, the funds will be used for:

• Paying all outstanding utility bills, mortgage payments and debts

• Covering out of pocket expenses related to Brandon’s care

• Ensuring a post chemotherapy opportunity for Richard and the twins to celebrate Brandon’s victory over cancer

If the financial goal is exceeded, donations will be made to organizations that have supported Richard and his family and other families going through cancer, as well as to do something very special for the compassionate pediatric oncology staff at Brenner Children's Hospital.

Your contribution, no matter the amount, will profoundly impact Richard and his children's lives. Your generosity will save Brandon, alleviate their financial burden, and remind them they are not alone in this fight. Together, we can ensure they have the financial stability to focus on Brandon's recovery and provide a nurturing environment for Racheal.

For ongoing updates and other ways to support Richard and his family, please follow their journey on their blog at Bradons BACC In our determination to stand with Brandon, we came up with the support slogan of “We’ve Got Brandon’s B.A.C.C.”. BACC is an acronym that stands for (Battle Against Childhood Cancer). Will you have his "B.A.C.C." too?

Thank you for reading this far. You can be one of the heroes that are supporting Brandon and Racheal during this difficult time. You have the opportunity to make a huge difference in their lives and continue to reinforce the belief that people are good and deserve our help when we are able to give it.

Even if you cannot donate now, please share this campaign with your friends, family, and colleagues. Sharing is a simple act of kindness that can connect us with those who have the means to contribute. Together, we can create a ripple effect of compassion and support to uplift Richard and his children during this challenging time.

If you can, please click “Donate Now” on this page to make your donation. You can also click “Follow-Like-Share ” for links on the blog to follow and like Brandon’s social media accounts as well as share the accounts and/or their story and GoFundMe Campaign information. Additionally, you can click “Send Mail” to get the mailing address to send cards, notes, letters, pictures or gifts. Finally, you can click “Contact Us” for other ways to reach us, such as email addresses or a contact form.

Thank you. Thank you for reading. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for caring. Richard has done everything he can do alone, now it’s our chance to have Brandon’s B.A.C.C.!