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Pay It Forward Fund for Women's Cancer |
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My name is Michelle Morey and I am a two year breast cancer survivor and the founder of the Pay It Forward Fund for Women's Cancer. As I went through 1 ½ years of treatment, my plan for when I was all over was to never talk about breast cancer again. I wanted to put this part of my life behind me. And I certainly had no intentions of fundraising - but life works in amazing ways. What I did feel as I neared the end of my treatment, was a tremendous sense of gratitude and the need to give back - I was grateful for the wonderful doctors & nurses at North Memorial who lived up to their motto of providing compassionate, remarkable care. Grateful to my family and friends for all of the love and support they gave me during treatment. Finally, I was grateful that I was able to take the time off that I needed to get healthy. So, I wanted to give back in some way or pay it forward. I had taken three months off of work during my treatment - it was five months before I was back to work full time. Not to mention what felt like a hundred doctors appointments. I always wondered what happened to people who didn't have strong support systems or the finances to get them through an illness like this. It was something that just wasn't talked about. But there are financially implications the go hand in hand a cancer diagnosis, especially if you are the sole provider for your home. Even if the patient has insurance, she may face high deductibles or co-pays. She may not be able to work during treatment and it's not uncommon for women to lose their jobs. So, my husband and I decided to donate money each month to North Memorial Hospital in Minneapolis. Ever since our first donation was used to turn a patient's water back on, we've been passionate about the cause. The patient had lost her job during treatment and Child Services was required to remove her kids from the home because her water was off. That story had such an impact me - as it does on most people I tell -. And that is the reason I decided to fundraise. During our first year, we were able to help over 30 women with the payment of basic living expenses such as water, heat, electricity, rent and mortgages. We pay up to $1,000 per patient. The fund is designed to help as many women as possible through a temporary financial crisis. It buys them time, and gives them hope knowing that people understand and care about what they are going through. This year, thanks to your help, we expect to help 3 times as many women. We received one letter from a woman who had completed treatment a couple years ago, wondering where the fund was when she was going through treatment. By the time her disability insurance kicked in, she was well behind on her bills. In the end, she said if she knew she was going to lose her car, her house, her credit and her dignity, she may have thought twice about even doing chemo. And, I just don't believe you should have to lose your life as you know it while you're fighting hard to save it. And that's why we're here tonight. Our hope with Pay It Forward is that women who receive help will some day, some how, pay it forward by helping other women during treatment. It's not easy to ask for help or accept it when it's offered, but we believe if they know ahead of time they will pay it forward, it enables the patient to accept the help they need. This help can come in many forms - besides a financial donation, it could be a ride to treatment, a meal, help with child care or as simple as a phone call or card for support. That's my story. People love the fund, and the ability it gives them to make an immediate impact on a patient's life. Since it is run through the North Memorial Foundation, 100% of the proceeds are used to help a woman in need. There are no administrative fees taken out. Thanks again for your interest! Regards, |
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