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.