Prior Recipients

L.I.F.E. was founded on the idea to pay forward all the kindness that other people have shown us.  When Eric was first diagnosed in 2003, we had countless friends, relatives, and even complete strangers offer to help us.  People brought meals, helped with medical expenses, and shared countless prayers.  Then one day we received a letter in the mail filled with coins from a young girl who had emptied her entire piggy bank for Eric’s cause.  Since that day we have made sure every penny donated towards our cause is given directly to the people that need.

Unlike larger 501(c)(3) non profit organizations, L.I.F.E. has no significant overhead costs, no marketing budget, and no one collecting an income.  We realized the charities we were raising money for had overhead expenses, advertising costs, and people collecting salaries.  Sometimes it’s hosting blood drives, other times we’ve donated to research laboratories, and other times we’ve helped young adults with cancer between the ages of 18 and 30.  We’ve found this population to be particularly vulnerable because typically they are no longer under the umbrella of their parents household.  These people have just begun life in the real world, only to be hit with a major setback, with little or no means for support.  In the past we have worked with social workers at various national cancer centers across the country to help identify those vulnerable patients that especially need financial assistance, and through our annual survivor grant, we are able to fulfill the mission we were set out to do.  L.I.F.E. has never expected anything in return, there are no strings attached to the help that is provided, only that the person continue to thrive to the best of their ability.  We have always striven to help as many other young adults affected by cancer that we can in this manner.

The stories about the patients and other organizations that L.I.F.E. has helped over the years can be found below.

2019 Recipient – Sienna Howe
Survivor Grant
Sienna is a 20-year-old woman from Tennessee currently being treated with chemotherapy and radiation for her recently diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Nashville. According to her mother Julie, Sienna has had…
Read More
2017 Recipient – Adrienne B.
Survivor Grant
Adrienne was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this month at the age of 25. Adrienne has actually supported blood drives sponsored by L.I.F.E. and organized by Eric’s brother Lindsey. L.I.F.E.…
Read More
Allison N
2015 Recipient – Allison P.
Survivor Grant
Allison P, a 25 year old woman from Robertsville, MO was recently diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, and her home has unfortunately been contaminated with myotoxins from a contaminated well.…
Read More
LLS Scenic Lakeshore 150
Survivor Grant
The McLean Family set out to ride in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Scenic Lakeshore 150 from Milwaukee to Door County and raised nearly $1,000 for research and patient care…
Read More
Our First Effort
Survivor Grant
Following Eric’s diagnosis on June 22, 2003, we felt almost helpless to do anything about it.  His life was entirely in the hands of his medical team at Froedtert Hospital…
Read More
Date   Name/Organization   Story  
Sep 2016 Nathan B.  19 year old from New York with Grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme.  Nathan resides with his mother and step-father. His mother is unable to work as she takes Nathan to his medical appointments and monitors his symptoms. As the family is living off one income, they are in need of financial assistance at this time.
June 2016 Gabriela R. 24 year old with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma from Arizona.
May 2016 Johnsal C. 24 year old with a mediastinal germ cell tumor from Arizona.  He was in college, but upon finding the tumor he had to quit school.  Since the tumor is near his heart, it is not easily accessbile to surgery, and had to begin chemo immediately.  Medical treatment and travel have been a large financial burden on the family, and they are no longer able to make ends meet to pay for basic things like utilities, gas, and meals.
Apr 2016 Elizabeth S. 27 year old wife and mother from Wisconsin with stage 1A Hodgkin’s lymphoma currently receiving chemotherapy and is struggling to provide for her family.  In her own words, her “family is financially crumbling”.  L.I.F.E. was able to help out with utilities, groceries, and transportation to some of her appointments.
Mar 2016 Gabriella M. 27 year old mother with Acute Myeloid Leukemia whose husband works in construction and takes on side jobs to help bring in extra money to help care for their 4 year old son.  L.I.F.E. was able to help provide funds for gas and transportation to and from appointments.

 

Mar 2016 Pedro C. 22 year old husband and father with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia who has had to be relocated away from his wife and 6 year old daughter to the bone marrow transplant unit for daily treatment.  L.I.F.E. was able to help subsidize some of that housing, as well as some transportation costs.

 

Feb 2016 Kathleen G. 20 year old mother from Arizona with osteosarcoma in her leg.  Because of pregnancy, treatment and diagnosis was delayed, resulting in advanced disease and bone fracture.  She has been forced to quit her job, and now has a newborn baby, as well as her 4 year old to care for.

 

Feb 2016 Grant S. 30 year old from Wisconsin, stage 3 sarcoma, receiving intense radiation treatment, unable to work, and is in desperate need to fix his vehicle to get to and from appointments.  Stay strong Grant!

 

Jan 2016 Tracey F. 29 year old mother to a 1 year old son from Wisconsin with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, whose cancer treatment is making it impossible to support her son and keep up with the mortgage.

 

Jan 2016 Megan L.  29 year old from Missouri battling breast cancer for the 2nd time.  Her fiance was also recently laid off off of his job, and she is missing a lot of work due to treatment.

 

Dec 2015 Leah J. Leah is a 28 year old from Minnesota who was 32 weeks pregnant when she found out she had Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, which presents an extreme complication with needing to delay treatment.  Leah now needs help with mortgage and utilities, and gas money.

 

Nov 2015 William L. 25 year old from Minnesota with AML who desperately needs assistance with travel and lodging for treatment.

 

Oct 2015 Ashley B.
Sept 2015 Ashley M.
August 2015 Jordan R.  18 year old female that has been diagnosed with both chronic myeloid leukemia, and hodgkins lymphoma.  Jordan needed help with gas and hotel stays.  Her mom is currently on disability, she currently rents a vehicle to get to treatments, pays for all of our own expenses, and does not have any help from her father.  We were able to help her with some of her transportation needs, and hope this helps in some small way.  Get well Jordan!

July 2015 Edgar C. 19 year old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who is battling not only the cancer, but a financial burden involving transportation for treatments.  Edgar has relapsed twice and has already received one bone marrow transplant. Edgar
June 2015 Brandon F. 26 year old man from Oklahoma with stage II testicular cancer.  He is being treated 4 hours away from home, struggling to find a job, and his girlfriend has 2 children.
May 2015 Tobben F. 27 year old male from Nevada with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, a very aggressive blood cancer, the same type that Eric had.  The patient was unable to find a center to provide a stem cell transplant in his area, so has been forced to travel to Arizona.  He must now stay there for 2 months with a full-time caregiver, which has been his wife, thus reducing their income to zero.
Apr 2015 Elizabeth B. 23 year old single mother from Missouri with Chondrosarcoma, a cancer of the bone, who already had to receive one amputation, who had difficulty affording gas and car payments to get to the treatment center.
Mar 2015 Elyse F. 30 year old woman from Arizona with undifferentiated leukemia – a very rare and acute form of blood cancer, and is also the mother of 18 month old triplets.  She underwent a stem cell transplant earlier this year, which required daily visits to the hospital, but lives over an hour away.  We were able to help her with an apartment near the cancer center so she could continue to receive treatment and stay with her family for that duration.
Feb 2015 Kayla T. 25 year old woman from Wisconsin with Hodgkin’s disease – a cancer of the white blood cells.  She is currently unable to work and has 2 small children at home.
Jan 2015 Jim W. 26 year old man from Wisconsin battling Rhabdomyosarcoma (a cancer of connective tissues), who also unfortunately also lost his job.
October 2014 Alisha R.  21 year old from North Carolina with chronic myelogenous leukemia.  Alisha strives to attend nursing school, but is already behind on medical bills and copays for insurance.
October 2014 Joshua G. 28 year old from Missouri with multiple myeloma.  Josh is a middle school teacher, and recently had a benefit drive to help offset medical costs, but is still in great need of help.
Sept 2014 Amy M.  28 year old woman from Missouri with breast cancer who is unable to make payments on her medical bills or rent
Sept 2014 Kari P.  28 year old woman from Wisconsin with colon cancer.  Kari recently had a large tumor surgically removed, will begin chemo soon, and needed help with medical bills.
Aug 2014 Jessica V.  27 year old from Wisconsin, another young adult battling acute myelogenous leukemia, the same type of cancer Eric had.  Jessica had a transplant from an unrelated donor one year ago, and is experiencing graft vs. host disease.  She has a 150 round trip commute 3 times per week for treatment.  She also has 3 young children and is desperately short on funds for both gas and food.
July 2014 Richard A.  24 year old from Missouri with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.  Richard is 6’8″ and wears a size 17.5 shoe!  He is unable to receive disability and will begin radiation soon without insurance.  Traveling to appointments has been a major expense.
July 2014 Kayla C. 26 year old from Missouri with stage IV cancer of the tongue.  LIFE was able to help Kayla with a few medical bills and transportation.
July 2014 Ryan S. 26 year old man from Wisconsin with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, the same type of cancer Eric had.  When we were contacted about Ryan he was receiving induction chemotherapy and scheduled for a stem cell transplant.  LIFE was able to provide some needed assistance with food and medical bills.
June 2014 Damarco L A 27 year old self-described workaholic from Missouri  with stage 4 lymphoma.  He has already lost 40lb, lost all of his hair, and now needs to walk with cane.  Nothing gets Damarco down though, he has been one of the most positive patients we have spoken with.  LIFE was able to help him with some basic transportation and activities of daily living needs.
Apr 2014 Ashley S.
Apr 2014 Alison W A 29 year old woman battling refractory Hodgkins Lymphoma
Mar 2014 Dallen A.  27 year old man from Oklahoma living with his family and struggling to find transportation to radiation treatments.
Mar 2014 Cassandra M 23 year old college student fighting breast cancer
Mar 2014 Jessica O.
Feb 2014 Katherine V a 26-year-old nurse diagnosed with breast cancer on Jan 2, 2014
Dec 2013 Lisa M. Lisa is a 28 year old mother from Missouri with triple negative breast cancer, who currently has no insurance after her husband switched jobs 1 month before her diagnosis.  L.I.F.E. was able to help offset the costs of some of her medical and treatment expenses.
Dec 2013 Kraig T. Kraig is a 29 year old from Missouri who has Grade 3 anaplastic oligodendroglioma in the left frontal cortex of the brain, and desperately needed help with medication copays each month.
Dec 2013 Robin P. Robin is a wonderful 29 year old mother to her infant son at home, and was just diagnosed with Stage IIA classical Hodgkin Lymphoma last month.
Nov 2013 Mirela G. 24 year old from Missouri with Ewing Sarcoma needing financial assistance for medical bills
Oct 2013 LaShawn G. 25 year old from Missouri with an agressive osteoblastoma of the bone.  As she is no longer able to move freely on her own, we were contacted by her social worker that they were in need of an electric lift to help get her in and out of bed.  Medicaid would not cover its cost, and her caregivers are her mother and elderly grandmother.  LIFE was able provide them with some added help for these basic requirements.
Sep 2013 Michael K.
Sep 2013 Daniel D.
Sep 2013 Richard “Russ” S. 29 year old from Florida with acute myeloid leukemia.  russ has received a stem cell transplant, but unfortunately the blood type conversion has not been going as well as planned, so he is currently receiving plasma exchange treatment.  Russ is an Ironman, and his father, Bill, ran across our site while searching the internet.  Russ was going to medical school, and hopes to continue with the goal of becoming an oncologist.  LIFE was able to help him out with assistance that was used for insurance copays, transportation, and other outpatient expenses during on-going bone marrow transplant recovery.
Sep 2013 Ray O
Sep 2013 McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research The research team at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research has informed us that their paper is nearing publication into the Journal of Clinical Investigation!  The study is being led by Associate Professor of Oncology, Dr. Jing Zhang.  In October 2011, Eric and Mike McLean were able to visit with lab director Dr. James Shull and sit in Dr. Zhang’s lecture hall through one of her oncology courses prior to making LIFE’s first donation towards their research.  2 years later in September 2013, LIFE returned to make an additional donation to help keep it going.  Professor Zhang has so kindly wrote a dedication to Eric that will be included in the paper!
Aug 2013 Sara N.
Aug 2013 Amanda T. 25 year old woman from Wisconsin with breast cancer.  It all started when Amanda found in her breast this past summer, but did not have insurance.  She is recently engaged to be married, and had engagement pictures taken before surgery.  She worked very hard in school and was thrilled to get her dream job as an elementary school teacher, but is worried about her classroom when chemotherapy treatment begins.  Amanda needed help from LIFE with medical and living expenses.
Aug 2013 Michael N. 28 and battling Gastrointestinal Stromal Sarcoma of the Stomach
July 2013 William M. 23 year old from Missouri with colon cancer and is almost finished up with his chemotherapy treatments.  William lives at home with his family and needed help with medical payments
July 2013 Brianne H. 27 year old woman from Wisconsin with an immature teratoma in her stomach, which is a form of sarcoma and larger than the size of a football.  LIFE was able to help provide Brianne assistance in obtaining insurance
July 2013 Jazmin R. 21 year old woman from Colorado with stage 4 chondro Sarcoma cancer who needed help with medical payments
July 2013 Jamie R. 30 year old from Wisconsin with invasive ductal carcinoma that has metastasized to her lymph nodes.  Jamie is the mother of a 2 and 5 year old.  LIFE was able to provide her some financial assistance with medical bills.
July 2013 Tasharo B. 30 year old woman from Missouri with Stage II triple negative Breast cancer behind on medical bills and rent
July 2013 Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher H. A 26 year old man who battled grade 3 Oligoastrocytoma from Southern Illinois.
July 2013 Kandice A. 26 year old woman from Illinois with a husband and children, and battling Hodgkins Lymphoma.  Eric’s brother Mike had the opportunity to meet her at the hospital for one of her treatments!
July 2013 Jessica M. 25 year old woman from Missouri with metastatic lung cancer needing help with travel costs, gas, and meals.
July 2013 Combat Medic Mike F. 22 year old army veteran battling colon cancer.  We were able to help Mike out significantly with his living situation ad medical expenses, and send him to see his favorite rock band courtesy of the venue!
June 2013 Tracey B. 22 and battling Hodgkins Lymphoma.
May 2013 Lisa K 30 year old woman from Wisconsin with a rare, aggressive type of thyroid cancer called Hurthle Cell Cancer. She has had thyroid surgery, which unfortunatly caused damage to her vocal cords. She has a very hoarse voice, which makes it difficult for her to talk by telephone. She just began radiation therapy treatment.  She has been on leave from her job because of her diagnosis, and is behind on medical bills.
Jan 2013 Emily T. 29 year old woman battling chronic myeloid leukemia from Dayton, MN.
Jan 2013 Monica C. 29 year old battling breast cancer from Neenah, WI.
Dec 2012 Katelyn C. 22 year old Psychiatric Nurses Aide from Virigina battling Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.  We received the following message: “During February my husband and I have to move out of our apartment because I’m physically having so much trouble getting in and out of it. There is 21 stairs to get into it and out of it and I also have to park a good ways away because the parking lot fills up so fast. I physically cannot do the stairs anymore with my leukemia I have just become too weak some days. We have found another place that is perfect and we can move in at the end of February, the only issue is that we can’t pay the deposit until we get our tax refund money back which will more then likely be in March (that’s when we have gotten it back the past several years).”  Well we took care of that security deposit and a little more!  Kick that cancer’s butt Katelyn!!
Nov 2012 Gabe V 30 year old man from Wisconsin with multiple myeloma and a form of aplastic anemia.  He will be having a bone marrow transplant later this month
Oct 2012 Jessica R. We recently received the message from Daniel in New York, that his 30 year old wife Jessica discovered she had leukemia the same day her twin boy and girl were born last year.  She has been battling since and it has been a struggle. This past week L.I.F.E. sent them some of the funds we have fundraised to maybe help make their lives just a little bit easier.  Click here to read their story.
Aug 2012 Hector R. 30 year old male from California with stage IV carcinoma of the small intestine
Oct 24, 2011 McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research Eric and Mike met with Dr. James Shull and Dr. Jing Zhang of the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and donated $10,000 towards a leukemia research study on behalf of L.I.F.E.  They received a super cool tour of the building, and Dr. Zhang invited them to attend her Oncology 703 course which they did!  Click here to read the full article 

 

2010 Ironman Wisconsin Janus Charity Challenge Eric’s older brother Mike took 3rd place in the Janus Charity Challenge at the Ironman Wisconsin 2010 and received an additional $6,000 towards L.I.F.E. for his efforts.  Eric’s story was highlighted as the focus charity story and was broadcast over statewide television.
2001-2008 Leukemia & Lymphoma Sociey Over $35,000 has been donated over the years by L.I.F.E. to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through Mike’s efforts in the Ironman.
2010 American Cancer Society LIFE has set up a fundraising tent at Relay for Life in Two Rivers, WI and has made a presence at others around the state.
Click below to watch Eric’s Relay for Life speeches:

2008-2010 UW Hospital & Clinics Over 120 volunteer hours were donated by Eric’s older brother Mike at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in Madison, WI  to support adult inpatients and nursing staff.
2005 MACC Fund The McLean Family set out to participate in this charity bicycle ride near Milwaukee, WI and were greeted by Tour de France Champion Greg Le Mond!  Together they again raised nearly $1,000 for research and patient care.