Everyday Heroes
With more than 20 successful events behind them, and many more on the brink, the Faith, Love, Hope, Win (FLHW) Foundation has raised more than $175,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The organization began when one man, David Emerson, was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. This man was faced with two choices: either succumb to the disease, or fight the battle of his life – for his life. He chose the latter, and today, six years since diagnosis, David is thriving and helping to advance the field of prostate cancer research.
On February 2, 2005, David started a blog. His first entry announced, “I am a 42 year-old, white male – and tomorrow I am having a biopsy to determine if the problems I’m experiencing are ultimately diagnosed as prostate cancer. Grim thought indeed.” On February 11, 2005, David updated his readers, “My phone just rang, it was the doctor . . . I’ve got it. My instant thought – I do not want to die, this is harder than I ever expected, pray for me.”
Only days after finding out his prostate cancer was aggressive and metastatic to the bone structure and lymph nodes, David and his wife Mary decided to start a new battle – make life easier for other men and families fighting the same fight. By selling blue wristbands for $1.00 a piece, the organization was created. The mission of the organization is simple: promote the importance of being tested for prostate cancer and raise money to support research necessary to find a cure.
Faith, Love, Hope, Win, which is lead by a dedicated six member Board, leverages available resources including financial, emotional and intellectual, within families, friends, neighbors and communities. Beginning with a small fundraiser, its efforts caught on quickly within the local community. The organization hossted its first event, a golf tournament, in September of 2005. Since that initial event they have expanded to bi-annual Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournaments, an annual disc golf tournament and, added last year, the “Warrior Combines”. This event is modeled after the NFL combines and garnered extensive coverage on the local Fox News station
“FLHW is a relatively small organization, but was started with a tremendous community of supporters,” shared Emerson. “The support continues to grow each year, with every event. Although the events are limited to Kansas City, the FLHW website reaches the international community and I have corresponded with men and women all over the globe. Prostate cancer has no borders and neither does Faith, Love, Hope, Win.”
100 percent of the contributions from Faith, Hope, Love, Win are donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and are used to advance the field of prostate cancer research. As one of PCF’s largest fundraisers, FLHW will continue their efforts in 2011.
To learn more about Faith, Hope, Love, Win and their past and upcoming events, please visit http://flhw.org.
*****
Do you have a story that you would like to share? Tell us.