This is our first installment highlighting our 2019 Fundraise for Meso events. Read the second recapping fundraisers established in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and the third recapping inaugural fundraisers.
Throughout the year, dozens of organizers host annual Fundraise for Meso events to benefit the Meso Foundation. From 5K runs/walks to kayaking to everything in between, these events raise much needed mesothelioma awareness and funds.
So far in 2019, there have been seven long-standing (5+ years) Fundraise for Meso events that have raised over $83,000 combined. They include Lung Leavin’ Day, Rockin’ for Meso, Kayaking 4 Meso, Bruce A. Waite 5K Run/Walk, Walk to Cure Meso, ROD’s Benefit for Meso, and the John Slagle Memorial Golf Tournament.
The final event scheduled for 2019 (and our longest-running Fundraise for Meso) is the 16th Annual George R. Brazee Christmas Breakfast & Bazaar, which takes place on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
Keep reading to learn more about these events and the organizers who make them happen (listed in chronological order by time of year when they occur):
Lung Leavin’ Day – Heather Von St James
St. Paul, Minnesota
February 2, 2019
In the fall of 2005, just after the birth of her child, Lily, Heather Von St James was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. The prescribed treatment was removal of the affected lung. The fear of not surviving the surgery, of facing radiation treatment and recovery, was overwhelming. On February 2, 2006 – the first-year anniversary of Heather’s surgery, her husband, Cameron, walked outside into the Minnesota cold (it was -17 degrees), with a set of plates and started a fire. On that cold Minnesota night, Lung Leavin’ Day was born — a celebration of facing and conquering one’s fears, whereby one writes their fears on glass plates and smashes them into the fire. In subsequent years, this tradition grew to include meso patients, survivors, and bereaved from far and near. On the sixth year, Lung Leavin’ Day became a fundraising and awareness event, of which the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has been the extremely fortunate recipient ever since.
“I am often asked why don’t I start a nonprofit of my own, and my answer is quite simple: the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation does everything I would want my nonprofit to do, and more.”
Heather Von St James
Rockin’ for Meso – Erin Wojno Mosher
Marlton, New Jersey
May 11, 2019
Five years ago, Erin Wojno Mosher, along with her family, organized her first Fundraise for Meso event in tribute of her father Bruce, an 11-year mesothelioma survivor. The event, 5K for Meso, was an immediate success garnering wide support among Erin’s large family, and extensive friends, acquaintances and community at large. Due to organizational constraints, this year’s fundraiser became Rockin’ for Meso, a music event that brought together live music and entertainment, catered food, beverages, a raffle and a special guest speaker to honor Bruce.
“We were so excited to make a mark on year five and get Rockin’ for Meso! This year’s event brought together so many meso warriors and their families, including a visit from meso warrior and advocate Heather Von St James, and we are eager to begin planning for our 2020 5K event.”
Erin Wojno Mosher
Kayaking 4 Meso – Mark Wells
Mechanicsville, New York
September 7, 2019
In 2001, Mark Wells received the news that any parent would dread to hear: his daughter, then 16 years old, was seriously ill. Diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma at such a young age, Linda, now 33 years old, is a 17-year mesothelioma warrior. It came to Mark one day in 2011, while kayaking on the Hudson River, that he could raise awareness about this rare cancer threatening his daughter’s life while doing something that he loved. In the first year of Kayaking 4 Meso, with only 3 kayakers, Mark got lucky and landed a television interview. The very next year, he was hosting 130 kayakers on the Hudson River (including throngs of mesothelioma warriors, survivors, and bereaved) – taking everyone on a beautiful and exciting journey through a series of river locks and dams. Nine years later, this event runs like a fine-tuned watch, right down to the exact count of Mark’s signature Kayaking 4 Meso t-shirts — each group differently colored to identify patients, survivors and bereaved.
“I don’t know if there’s one word for it. It’s pretty awesome to tell you the truth. It’s a lot of fun to come out and do this, and it’s a great cause.”
Mark Wells
Bruce A. Waite 5K Run/Walk – Jill Waite
Ontario, Ohio
September 15, 2019
Now in its eighth year, the Bruce A. Waite 5K Run/Walk is hosted by Jill Waite in memory of her father, Bruce, a retired high school teacher who passed away from mesothelioma in 2003. Bruce was also an avid runner, so organizing a 5K to honor his life was a no-brainer for Jill, who has found the event to be healing for her. Year after year, she is constantly amazed by the number of people — from former students to Bruce’s dental hygienist — who come from all across the country to support this annual fundraiser.
“I just wanted to honor my father and create an event to fight back and help others in some way as they face the monster (mesothelioma) that wreaks havoc on their lives. I am blown away by the support and success of the event.”
Jill Waite
Walk to Cure Meso – Erica Iacono
East Meadow, NY
September 15, 2019
The Walk to Cure Meso, which takes place in Long Island’s Eisenhower Park, started out as a way for Erica Iacono to honor the memory of her father, Anthony, who passed away from mesothelioma in 2000. Now, 14 years later, the walk has become an annual fundraiser that gathers the entire community, raises mesothelioma awareness, and creates healthy competition among participants who join teams and compete against each other for most dollars raised.
“Even though this event was founded out of a terrible loss, it has really turned into something that celebrates the lives of those we’ve lost and our commitment to this cause.”
Erica Iacono
ROD’s Benefit for Meso – Missy Dorsey Bowles
Eleanor, West Virginia
September 21, 2019
After Missy lost her father, Richard O. Dorsey (ROD), to mesothelioma in the summer of 2008, she turned her grief into action and organized ROD’s Benefit for Meso. Initially organized as a 5K walk, Missy quickly realized the event needed to be more, so, over the years, she has added a charity gospel sing, raffles, zumbathon, a color run and a silent auction featuring local vendors. Her dedication has paid off, and ROD’s Benefit for Meso celebrated its 10th anniversary this fall.
“I’m an all-or-nothing kind of person, so this event has become my baby and a way to do something in my dad’s name and memory. He was such an unselfish and giving man that I know if he could, he would do all he could to help others that face this disease.”
Missy Dorsey Bowles
John Slagle Memorial Golf Tournament – Vicki Slagle and sons, Mike, Ben and Dan Slagle
River Falls, Wisconsin
September 28, 2019
In 2012, the passing of John Slagle at age 60 to mesothelioma left a huge void in the lives of his wife, Vicki, and their sons, Mike, Ben and Dan. The Slagles decided to create the John Slagle Memorial Golf Tournament that same year to celebrate his life. During the 2015 event, the Slagles learned that the tournament had fallen on Mesothelioma Awareness Day (Sept. 26) and discovered the Meso Foundation. Determined to raise research funds for a cure and spare other families the same pain of losing someone to mesothelioma, the Slagles chose to make the tournament a Fundraise for Meso event in 2016 and continued that tradition this fall.
“This year’s event was simply wonderful! The weather was perfect, and we had 104 golfers, great food, and outstanding speeches by Heather Von St. James and Katie Jamieson. It feels good to contribute to something that otherwise seems so hopeless. Having so many friends and family join together at the event is beyond words to the boys and me.”
Vicki Slagle
16th Annual George R. Brazee Christmas Breakfast & Bazaar – Joyce Brazee
Tewksbury, Massachusetts
November 30, 2019
The 16th Annual George R. Brazee Christmas Breakfast & Bazaar will be held on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 in Tewksbury, MA. The bazaar is our longest running Fundraise for Meso event and offers a delicious breakfast for $5, a basket raffle, 50/50, candy raffle, photo with Santa, face painting, bake sale and holiday novelties for sale.
“Hope keeps us motivated to continue fundraising year after year. It’s also hope that someday a cure will be found. What better way to honor my father and keep his memory alive?”
Joyce Brazee
Interested in hosting your own Fundraise for Meso event? Contact us at [email protected] or 703-879-3797, and we will provide you the tools and resources you’ll need to make your event a success.
