Help April Fletcher-Clark teach cancer a lesson!

April Fletcher Clark is facing the unimaginable, yet again. Diagnosed late last year with breast cancer, for the third time, she has been fighting the disease ever since. She is being treated by the finest doctors in the country at M.D. Anderson (at their new satellite in Jacksonville) and just had surgery to remove her primary tumor just a few weeks ago. The pathology report came back reporting that they were remnants of cancer left around a vein and that 4/9 remove lymph nodes indicated involvement. This is not the news everyone had hoped for. Her original plan for surgery, radiation therapy, and reconstruction has now been amended to include chemotherapy. This will require more time off work, a longer recovery, and a ton more medical expenses - not to mention the travel and lodging to Jacksonville for care. One blessing is she will be receiving her chemo and radiation locally.

For those of you who don't know, April is the Director of Programs for the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) - I have the joy of working for her! April not only directs all programs at the agency but she also works in the local schools through our School-Based Outreach Program. Day in and day out, April has touched tens of thousands of children in her tenure at CAPA, teaching them about personal body safety, how to tell if the worst should happen, good touch/bad touch, bullying, and a wealth of other education to prevent child abuse. She has spent her second career (she was a teacher too!) not only educating these children but also listening when, after one of her lessons, they felt safe enough to finally tell their stories. Her involvement in classrooms across Beaufort County has undoubtedly affected many of the children, and adults now, that we all know and love. Her impact is immeasurable and her dedication to the most vulnerable among us is commendable.  April is truly an inspiring woman who gives so much to everyone around her and never asks for anything in return. 

April is a single mother, the sole breadwinner, and like anyone who has faced the same circumstances, the future looks daunting. She has normal life expenses, the mounting medical bills from years ago and this time around, and has much-needed home repairs that have been neglected because she has tried to stay current on all her medical bills. By pooling our resources, we can provide her with at least some financial relief so she can concentrate on beating cancer in this third battle and not the financial worries that would weigh any of us down. If you are able to give, please do, if not, please consider keeping April in your hearts and prayers. She has an extremely positive attitude right now and assures all of us, she is ready to kick butt and take names. If anyone can, it's April.  
Thank you to everyone for your  support, 
Ashleigh Newman