| Author | Message | ||||
     Firemanjim |
Here is the challenge folks,can you forgo that latte for a bit or give up a few beers for awhile? Let's make a difference here. The Matt Ware Benevolent Trust c/o Chase Bank - Jeff Pasma Personal Banker 6261 Kalamazoo Ave. S.E. Kentwood MI 49508 I am in for 100.00---you?? | ||||
| Lake_bueller |
I'm in for 2 tickets to a Packers/Lions game. I already sent an email to Missy. | ||||
| Oldog |
I'm In for $100.00 Step up.. | ||||
| Jerry_haughton |
we're in for at least $100, maybe more. next? step up. FB&D | ||||
| Bomber |
as the red legs say, on the way! | ||||
| Prior |
In $200. I have 5 of these, the patches made for Matt's trip:  and a 'Live Strong' band. One of each for a $30 donation- shoot me your address. (Message edited by awprior on May 03, 2007) | ||||
| Berry |
My hundred is on the way! Jim A | ||||
| Lake_bueller |
Hey all you other guys.....it doesn't need to be $100. If you can afford it, send $10, $20, whatever. | ||||
| Jerry_haughton |
what Lake said!!!  a few of us have been working in the background the last several days, putting the pieces in place to take FMJ's fundraising effort to another level. there'll be an announcement here before the end of the day. thank you to all who have Stepped Up for the Ware Family. to those who haven't quite got around to it yet: you're next! FB | ||||
| Dbird29 |
Got a PayPal link? | ||||
| Jerry_haughton |
yep, sure do! standby, k? | ||||
| Dbird29 |
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| Jerry_haughton |
trust me David, i'm workin' on it - you gots no idea what's been going on in the background the past few days... hang tight, i'll spill ALL the beans yet today! FB (ps: anyone notice the "Matt Ware Benefit Auction" link above? ) | ||||
| Jerry_haughton |
here's the deal, folks: one of our friends is dying. and his family needs our help. y'all know of Matt Ware, and that he's dying of brain cancer. as you can see from the pic at the top of the page, he's just a pup, just hitting his prime. or SHOULD be. fate can be cruel, and Matt and his family are taking the ultimate hit. in the first pic above, taken just three years ago, Matt's got his "A game" going. he knows what's going on inside his head, but the cancer is pretty small and quiescent at this point, and him and Alex look like they ain't got a care in the world. in the second pic above, taken last September on Matt's front porch in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Matt and Alex are STILL havin' a ball. 'cept Matt looks a lot older, and a lot heavier (steroids, in part). the disease has grown, a bunch, but a grueling regimen of nasty-assed chemotherapy and other stuff no human should ever have to endure is keeping him alive, buying him time. last September Matt was still living independently. yeah, his thoughts came a little hard at times, and his balance was a little spotty, but he was damn proud of the fact that he was still his own master, still living in his own home, still alive. that's Matt's parents, Mitch and Lori, in the third pic, the following morning after breakfast just up the street from Matt's house. they really, REALLY love their kids. it showed during our visit, and it shows in this pic. Matt really, REALLY loves his parents, too. ----------- today, as i type these words with tears in my eyes, Matt is lying in a bed at Trillium Woods, a hospice facility in Grand Rapids. y'all know what hospice is, right? it's a place for people to live out the last days of their lives, hopefully in peace, comfort and dignity. Matt is barely conscious. he is, to be blunt, in his last days on this earth. he is barely able to move, barely able to speak, and he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is about to die. as do Mitch and Lori. i can't imagine the pain and heartbreak they're going thru. yet thru it all, Matt has been a hero, as has Mitch! he has kept us informed of Matt's progress for the last three years in his delightful e-mail reports, sharing in his honest, simple way, the highs and lows of their battle with the beast. friends, Matt and Mitch and Lori need your help. Matt's insurance will not come close to paying for his massive medical expenses (hospice alone is over $200 a day), and WE can do something to help. as FMJ said so well above, we can make a difference. can you spare a buck? $5? $10? $100? more? every penny will help Mitch and Lori cope with the financial damage that cancer has wreaked on their family. we, the good people of BadWeB, have the power to make a difference. a small, dedicated group of folks has been working in the background the past few days, including Blake Rudy himself, so we can take FMJ's "Step Up!" campaign to the next level. we're asking you to look in your heart, and dig deep in your pocket. JPMorgan Chase Bank in Grand Rapids has set up the "Matt Ware Benevolent Trust" for Matt and his family. we're asking you to donate to the trust 'til it hurts. ALL donations go to offset Matt's medical expenses. IF there is any money left over, it will be donated to the American Cancer Society for brain cancer research. this is all on the up and up. believe me, we've checked. JPMorgan Chase Bank's contact info is listed below the pix above, and Jeff Pasma told me he would welcome your call. our own Ulywife (aka Kristi Suarez) has established a PayPal account for BadWeb, for the sole purpose of donating to Matt's trust fund, and has agreed to meticulously maintain a running record of our donations, post a daily tally here on the board, and to forward those funds, every last penny, to Matt's trust fund. y'all know Kristi, right? she's kinda like BadWeB's resident "House Mom" and she's darned good at it. (check out the RAN page, as but one example, if you have any doubts.) Kristi handles multi-million dollar federal grants in her line of work, and her audits are clean. every time. ----------- it's simple, really: some very good people need our help. what are YOU gonna do about it? thx for listening. thx for making this the best motorcycle board on the planet. Ferris Bueller ----------- Kristi Suarez, aka Ulywife Kristi's PayPal address, for "Step Up!" donations and/or Trust-related e-mail correspondence: MattWareTrust@gmail.com NOTE: please note on your PayPal transaction "Matt Ware Benevolent Trust" Kristi's mailing address (for check donations): Kristi Suarez PO Box 1076 Grifton, NC, USA 28530 NOTE: please make your check out to "Matt Ware Benevolent Trust" please feel free to make a comment to Matt's family in your PayPal or check donation - they will all be forwarded to the family. and if you prefer to remain anonymous, no prob, just say so. as Milo would say: "Peace." (Message edited by jerry_haughton on May 05, 2007) | ||||
| Reepicheep |
Man, I thought you would never get around to setting up PayPal! Money sent, not much and it's worth every penny. I wish I was richer. I can see Matt now as the enemy comes to him at the end and tries to sell him foul lies and desperation. He stands there, with a defiant look (and hopefully his middle finger squarely in the air) and announces "Hear that? That's my Savior coming!" Thanks for organizing this Kristi and Jerry... | ||||
| Jerry_haughton |
Man, I thought you would never get around to setting up PayPal! Reep, i can't describe the amount of work that's been going on in the background the past several days, including getting the PayPal account set up. to the point: we all wanted to do this right. i think we've succeeded. Money sent, not much and it's worth every penny. I wish I was richer. every penny helps, humble thanks. I can see Matt now as the enemy comes to him at the end and tries to sell him foul lies and desperation. He stands there, with a defiant look (and hopefully his middle finger squarely in the air) and announces "Hear that? That's my Savior coming!" Reep, for not the first time, your words to Matt bring tears to my eyes. thank you. Thanks for organizing this Kristi and Jerry... ...and Fireman Jim, and Blake, and Jim and Kim Bantz, and Milo, and... ...our own Alex Prior. i spoke with Alex again today. it's an awful reason why we've been in contact so much of late, but it's good to hear my friend's voice nonetheless. this deal is hard on Alex. one look at the first two pix above says all anyone needs to know about the bond between Alex and Matt. Matt is, at least as of a few days ago, still "in there," still functional inside, altho every second it gets harder. several days ago he asked Alex to be one of his pallbearers. life - and death - doesn't get anymore serious than that. Reep, i wish i knew a better way to say "thank you," but this is the best i've got: thank you. FB | ||||
| Ulywife |
FB - you made me cry again. This is for Matt and his family. Let's make a difference. Kristi  | ||||
| Ulywife |
The power of BadWeB strikes again. Here is the Matt Ware Benevolent Trust Fund spreadsheet. We're off to a great start. On behalf of the Ware Family, we thank you.
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| Buellgirlie |
i'm just getting settled over here in china, and would love to donate. needs to wait til i get my next paycheck though...will be donating on may 25th! prayers to matt and family, D | ||||
| Bluzm2 |
Money Sent. Thanks for the Paypal setup, it makes thing much easier. I was going to send anyway but now there no excuse not to step up and help. Brad | ||||
| Fpresky |
donation sent , this website and it's members are truly incredible. keep paying it forward we never know wich of us could need help next.we should count our blessings (Message edited by fpresky on May 05, 2007) | ||||
| Ulywife |
Fpresky - I couldn't have said it better. The generosity of BadWeB members never ceases to amaze me. Kristi | ||||
| Pammy |
Matt and his family, including his BadWeb family...Truly a modern day view of Amazing Grace. My heart goes out to Matt and his parents. As a parent myself, I cannot imagine anything more heart shattering than losing my child. The fortitude these people have let us witness is beyond amazing. I will second FMJ's challenge and reiterate how little one has to give up in order to help so very much. You people make me proud to hang around here. NEXT! | ||||
| Daves |
Kristi Watch your mailbox, check will be there mid week. I wish I could do more. | ||||
| Ulywife |
Daves - will let you know when your check arrives. BTW - got the shirts and they look great! Thanks to everyone else who has contributed. I'm still speechless at how much we have collected in just two days. Attached you will find the updated spreadsheet and any comments to the family on the Word document.
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| Firemanjim |
Man,you guys/gals have really been busy,I took a day or so off and WOW!!I added my contribution in. Just a thought,but a direct link to Paypal would be good. | ||||
| Jerry_haughton |
folks - i really don't know what to say. in no time at all, we've raised almost two and a half thousand dollars!!! THANK YOU!!! to the peeps who have already contributed, including the anonymous donor who kick-started Kristi's spreadsheet with a $1000 donation (wow!), well, you quite simply rock. but it doesn't have to be "big" money, as Lake Bueller put it in so many words above. if all you can spare is $5, please contribute with joy in your heart, and with the knowledge that you're doing something fantastic. we ramped this thing up going into the heart of the weekend, just when the traffic on the board slows way down. i've got high hopes that tomorrow morning brings a lot more traffic to this thread, and that Kristi's spreadsheet gets even busier! i've posted FMJ's "Step Up for Matt Ware!!" campaign over on SacBORG ( http://www.sacborg.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6579 ). our two boards have successfully collaborated to raise money before (for Gordon Buhle's memorial paver at the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca after he died), and i'm hoping we can do so again. now then. there was a wonderful, WONDERFUL gift in my e-mailbox this morning when i woke up, and i'm going to share it here with you. i sent out a group e-mail yesterday to everyone on Mitch Ware's e-mail list - the list he uses when he sends out his updates on Matt - advising them of FMJ's "Step Up!!" campaign and letting the Ware's know that we're here for them. here's my e-mail, and right behind it is a most treasured gift to ALL of us. people, i'm so proud of y'all my heart is about to burst! May 5, 2007 Matt, Mitch & Lori - This is a quick note to express thanks on behalf of motorcyclists from around the world who's lives your courage, grace and dignity have touched, including mine. The good folks at BadWeatherBikers.com (a Buell motorcycle-based online discussion forum affectionately known as "BadWeB") are rallying to help the Ware Family offset some of Matt's medical expenses via a fundraising campaign called "Step Up for Matt Ware!!", begun by "Fireman Jim" Higgins, Captain of the Vallejo, California Fire Department. We first learned of Matt and his family a little over three years ago thru one of our members, Mr. Alex Prior, whom I assume some or most of you know or have heard of. Since then we have followed Matt and his family's struggle and have been, literally, transformed. Our "Step Up for Matt Ware!!" fundraising campaign is just a few days old and at last count we have already raised almost $2500, every penny of it to be donated to the Matt Ware Benevolent Trust at JPMorgan Chase Bank. here is a link to the "Step Up!!" campaign on BadWeB: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=4062&post=878462#POST878462 We wish you all the best. Matt, you will never be forgotten. Thank you for your hospitality during our visit last September. It was an honor to stay in your home. Mitch and Lori and family, we are here for you. Jerry Haughton and Denise Murphy, on behalf of motorcyclists from around the world and... May 5, 2007 Guys, This is a huge blessing. Matt being a typical young 20-something never gave much concern to getting a terminal disease and like most, had not planned on such a thing. Matt has a long history of helping friends and aquaintances in their time of need. In fact, I am reminded of a time when he was in middle school. He just had to have a particular suede jacket for winter. I tried to talk him out of it as suede and snow/water etc. don't really mix well in the life of an active 7th grade boy. However, he persisited and we gave in. He was so proud of that jacket, he all but slept in it. A few months later, when I was picking him up from one of his friends house, I noticed he didn't have his new jacket, when I asked him where it was, he gave me a little of the "um I'm not sure Dad' story. I then asked more directly where was it??, and he told us that he had given it to his buddy Dave... who didn't have a winter coat that year. I was so proud... So, needless to say he (and we) are having to learn how to recieve gifts like that. He is so very proud of his buddy Alex, and so very appreciative of all of your groups efforts to give him a hand when he needs it the most. May God richly bless you guys (and gals) this year as you are truly great new friends! Mitch and family folks, give yourself a big hug this morning, and bask in the glow of greatness - you deserve it. humbly, FB | ||||
| Ulywife |
Thanks for sharing FB. | ||||
| Ulywife |
Just a thought,but a direct link to Paypal would be good. I tried, but it didn't like something I did. Maybe FB can work his magic on it! | ||||
| Jerry_haughton |
FB's lucky if he can successfully send an e-mail... |
