The following is a Message Sent From Debbie's Son, Andrew before a Fundraising Campaign at the Great Human Race in Edmonton, Ab
Hello to Everyone,
I hope this message finds you all doing well, I am usually not one to send emails out with some sort of
personal touch, my apologies.
The reason I am writing to you all is to ask a huge favour.
(usually I don't like to ask for help with things, something about my
stubborn nature, but here's the scoop!)
A little background.....
As some of you already know my mom was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a terminal disease with no known cause or cure.
It is a disease that causes her immune system to fight against her own body
essentially scarring her lungs and gradually taking away from her total lung capacity.
With no cure to this disease my mom has
been forced to take the steps to get herself on the organ donor program for a new set of lungs. This was announced
recently (January 25th, 2002). My mom is now officially on the waiting list.
The transplant would take place anytime in the next year to
two years here in Edmonton.
Another option (to be taken along with the transplant) is the possibility of buying
what has been termed a "wonder drug", Interferon
Gamma 1-B. This drug has been proven to halt the scarring of the lungs in patients
with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and in
some cases increase the overall lung capacity of those people. The drug isn't available
in Canada as it isn't FDA approved so we
would have to purchase the drug from out of the country, this is an estimated cost of
$50,000 (U.S.). Buying it from the US and
not being FDA approved (it is in the testing stage) would require us to purchase the drug as an
out of pocket expense. Extended
Health and Alberta Health Care look at it as an "alternative" medicine and will
not cover any of the costs. Yet my mom's
doctors are suggesting she try and get this drug as there are soon to be no options
for her (it is usually estimated that people with
this disease are given a life expectancy of 6 years from diagnosis, my mom is nearing
at this time limit as she wasn't diagnosed until
about 4 years into it).
As this is an expensive endeavour, with the costs being the drugs, plus having to quit
work, travel expenses, accommodations in
Edmonton during pre-treatment education, ongoing medications now and
forever, equipment required in the home
afterwards........the list goes on) a trust fund in Pincher Creek, AB, has been
started through the United Church. The name of the
trust fund is "The Debbie Fairhurst Trust Fund". The account is set up with the
Credit Union in town and requires 2 signatures for
outgoing funds (no fear of my parents skipping the country for a Caribbean Cruise!).
With that all said.....and where I hope you can help....
On May 11, 2002 there is a running race called the Great Human Race to be held in Edmonton at 10:00 AM at the Butterdome.
The website is www.greathumanrace.com The United Way supports and hosts the race/fun walk. You can either do the 8km
running race or 3km walk. How it works-runners enter the race and raise money through sponsors. (anyone can enter for a really
low fee of 15 bucks if registered before April 27th and if your under 17 it's free AND you get a free T-Shirt...cool!) Each runner that
enters the race gets to run for their chosen charity or organization. After the race the United Way keeps 20% of the raised funds
and the remaining 80% goes to the charity or organization.
As you may have already guessed I have done the leg work to make "The Debbie Fairhurst Trust Fund" a recognized organization
for the Great Human Race. What I am asking of you all of is to either:
a)Enter the race and use your resources of friends and family to sponsor you as you run/walk for the "Debbie Fairhurst Trust
Fund "
b)Consider sponsoring myself as I will be entering the race
I would of course love to see as many people I know take on choice "a", but fully understand if you are not able to make any
commitments. If anyone is interested in taking part in the race let me know. You can either self register online, mail or walk in
register at a number of locations. Key thing in your registration is the "Non-Profit Organization I will be Supporting" fill out box,
that's where you write the "Debbie Fairhurst Trust Fund". One thing to note however is that the trust fund is not a registered
charity and therefore a tax receipt will not be issued for any donations.
I would like to thank you all in advance for taking the time to read this. I don't want anyone to think that they have to do this or that
I'll think differently if you cannot help out. Hopefully talk to you all soon!
Best regards,
Andrew Fairhurst
(780) 975-7698
