#AllInForLivestrong

- by Jeri Mulder

My name is Jeri Mulder. Jeff and I are so excited and proud to announce a challenge that has been a long time in the making. Our family has dedicated $1,000,000 over the past 12 years to this organization and we just formally announced yesterday our pledge for an additional $1,000,000 to Livestrong. You may wonder “Why Livestrong? Why now?” Normally my husband Jeff does all the talking — he’s good at that — but today I want to share with you my story. I want you to understand why we have made the choice to go #AllInForLivestrong.

Many years ago, I had to make the difficult decision to leave my ex-husband after a very difficult period in our marriage. I left Texas with our two children and moved across the country to Michigan to live with my grandparents.

During these chaotic days, I noticed a growing lump in my neck. With no money and no insurance, seeing a doctor wasn’t possible. My grandmother asked a nephew who was a heart surgeon to advise me. “Is it bad?” I asked him. “Just see a specialist as soon as you can,” he replied. I later found a job that came with insurance benefits and a catch: I had to wait three months for the benefits to kick in.

Those three months — the longest of my life — were full of anxiety: Was it cancer? Was it spreading while I had to wait to see a specialist? What if I died? I laid awake night after night consumed with worry.

After three months passed, I was able to get an appointment where I was diagnosed with thyroid papillary cancer. Fortunately, it was slow-moving and treatable. I underwent two surgeries and radiation and was finally declared cancer free.

Years later, I met and married Jeff. We had two more beautiful children and have become deeply involved with the Livestrong Foundation. As I got to know Livestrong, I would think back to those three anxious months, many years ago. Had Livestrong been around back then, I wouldn’t have had to wait to see a doctor. I wouldn’t have gone through the fear and anxiety alone. I would have been enveloped by a community of support that provided access to care, connections to fellow survivors, and the resolve to fight cancer on my terms.

Everyone deserves to have support and Livestrong is here day in and day out helping people in their fight. Jeff and I are stepping up because someone needs to. I am sharing my story because maybe it will inspire someone else to share theirs.

Were you involved with Livestrong in the past? Have you received support from the foundation’s Navigation Services? Did you or a loved one take part in Livestrong at the YMCA? Then Jeff and I are challenging all of you — Get reengaged. Go all in for Livestrong. This organization deserves your support and they need you to show it.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Donate — Livestrong needs your financial support to continue helping people affected by cancer now.
2. Sign up for an event — There are several great events to choose from. Jeff will be at RAGBRAI this year. Join him!
3. Propose your own fundraising challenge — We are always up for a good challenge. Make it fun and bring your friends along.

Livestrong programs and services are more relevant than ever and they need your support to keep them going. Let’s go #AllInForLivestrong!

#AllInForLivestrong was originally published in Livestrong Voices on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.