Families are Getting it Done
Shannon Ertner is getting it done. What is “IT”? She and her family are bringing in donations to support Nevus Outreach. For the past three years, she’s organized a fishing tournament through The Lady Bass Anglers of West Michigan, and an annual Easter Basket raffle. She’s raised over $6,200 to support nevus research.
The tournament is called "Gracie & Friends Casting for a Cure.” This year it was held June 7, 2008 on Gull Lake in Kalamazoo, Michigan. There were fifteen boats (30 fishermen/women) and a special guest appearance by Professional Bass Angler, Kevin VanDamm. Lunch was served after the tournament and prizes were awarded. Local businesses contributing were Fluid Process Equipment, JP Motors & Drives, D&R Sports, Myers/Gymer Chiropractic, Northern Bass Anglers Association (NBAA) & Hastings Surgeons, PC. The first place winners, Mike LaGrow and Justin LaGrow donated their winnings back to Nevus Outreach. Two children with large nevi took part in the fun: Chelsea Grace Ertner, aka “Gracie,” and Jarrett Lagrow.
Thanks, Shannon (and husband, Mike)!
For pictures of the Ertners' events click here....
Lauren Cunningham’s family is getting it done, too. Kevin and Sarah Cunningham’s little girl Lauren was born in 2003 with a giant nevus. Like many people they turned to the internet to learn all about it, and they found Nevus Outreach.
In 2005, along with Lauren’s grandparents, Jim and Nita Roethe and Jerry and Joanne Cunningham, they put on a huge fundraiser for Nevus Outreach. This golf tournament and auction grossed over $105,000. The Cunninghams and Roethes understand that if they don’t do it, it won’t get done.
They came to our conferences, met up with expert physicians, were major sponsors of our 2008 conference, and now, in the fall of 2008, they are at it again. This time the families are hosting a “non-event” event. You don’t dress up and you don’t go to a party…instead you get out your checkbook and think of little Lauren while you write a check to support nevus research.
Thanks, Kevin and Sarah, Jim and Nita and Jerry and Joanne!
Nevus Outreach is dedicated to improving awareness and providing support for people affected by congenital pigmented nevi, and finding a cure. After a close look at all the donations Nevus Outreach has received to further the mission, the bottom line is this: 99.9% of Nevus Outreach’s financial support comes from people who either have a big nevus or know somebody who does.
This is pretty remarkable. Many people assume that Nevus Outreach receives funding from the government. Nope. A giant nevus is considered an orphan disease, therefore Nevus Outreach is not eligible for most governmental funding programs. What about “big name” foundations? (People regularly suggest we apply to the Gates Foundation. We did. We don’t meet their criteria.) So, no, again. On the other hand, we HAVE received generous gifts from several family foundations including:
- Morgan Family Foundation
- Greehey Family foundation
- Robinson Family Foundation
- Wallace Family Charitable Foundation
- Rosebury Charitable Foundation
- Silas Foundation
Guess what? Each of them either has a family member with a giant nevus, or knows someone who does.
This is why we say “If we don’t do it, it won’t get done.”
Since Nevus Outreach was founded, people have held fundraisers because they believe in these goals. Over the years, that support has funded over $400,000 in research, underwritten six international conferences, provided comfort and support to thousands of people, and increased awareness about the condition.
Every time there is a fundraiser, more people learn about what it means to have a giant nevus. The more people who learn about it, the more there are to share the load. What started as people with nevi and their families is growing into a bigger and bigger group who understand how important it is to accomplish the mission.
