VANCOUVER, Wash. Cougars for the Cures, a club at Washington State University Vancouver comprised of about 50 students from various health-related programs, is focusing its fund-raising energy on one local cancer patient and his family this December.
The club members, who participate in such health-related fund-raising events as the Komen Race for the Cure throughout the year are sponsoring and manning a Christmas tree sales lot this month and donating all proceeds to help a local cancer patient and his family with their medical expenses.
The lot is in the parking lot of Albertson’s grocery store, 14300 N.E. 20th Avenue, not far from the WSU Vancouver campus. Sale hours are Monday to Friday, 3 to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 24.
The father of the family, who prefers his name be withheld, was initially diagnosed with cancer at age 11. He was again diagnosed with cancer in 1998, when doctors removed a tumor from his brain.
Then, in 2004, he began experiencing seizures as a result of past radiation treatments. Each seizure has resulted in more irreversible cognitive deterioration.
A college professor in California and more recently at Clark College, he has been forced by the decline in his cognitive abilities to resign his teaching career. He has no disability benefits and, because of the severity and frequency of his seizures, he is no longer able to drive.
His wife is a graduate student who recently underwent surgery and has become so anemic that she is no longer able to work or attend school. The couple has a six-year-old son.
“They have drained all savings and retirement accounts,” said Mindy Kingery, the club’s president. “They would greatly appreciate your help. If you already have a tree, donations are welcome.”
