August 9, 2010
By DIANA KUYPER Special to The News-Sun
Brian's Believers, a group of supportive family and friends of Waukegan resident Brian Thomsen, is organizing a golf benefit for him as today he starts another round of chemotherapy for epithelioid sarcoma, a rare form of soft-tissue cancer.
Brian is Mary and Thomas Thomsen's 38-year-old son. Mary is organizing the fund-raiser, scheduled Sept. 17, seeking golfers and donors for the First Annual Brian's Believers Golf Benefit and Auction at Antioch Golf Club. Registration for golfers starts at noon, and a reception follows at 6:30 pm.
Mary said organizing the golf outing is a new way to help her son.
"I am at wit's end looking for ways to help him. It is so hard when you see your child suffering," she said.
Brian was diagnosed with stage 4 epithelioid sarcoma three years ago. He went through an aggressive treatment plan of chemotherapy, radiation and three operations that resulted in amputation of two fingers and part of the palm on his left hand.
"Brian was cancer-free for almost 10 months," said Mary, explaining the cancer most commonly attacks young adults, is very aggressive and often returns.
Now the cancer has returned in his arm and hand, and he could lose his arm, said Mary. In the meantime, he lost his technical support position with a company in Mundelein. He was on disability, but company policy resulted in his termination after he was on disability for six months. He moved back in with his parents, and they are struggling to cover the $1,500 monthly premium for COBRA insurance coverage in addition to other medical expenses not covered by insurance.
"We are making it, but just barely because we are all struggling financially," said Mary, 74, living on Social Security with her husband.
Brian's Believers was the name used for a group of his supporters for their Relay for Life team. Made up of a group of friends and family, the members decided a golf outing could be a good fund-raiser.
"We have had great encouragement from the staff at Antioch Golf Club. Now we are looking for participants and sponsors, including event and hole sponsors, and we are trying to set up auctions and raffles, so we are looking for auction and raffle donations," Mary said.
Sponsorships are available starting at $100 for hole sponsors up to $1,000 for event sponsors. A $100 registration fee per golfer includes 18 holes of golf, a cart and a cocktail reception at 6:30 pm.
For more information, visit www.BriansBelievers.Giving.OfficeLive.com Donations may be sent to Brian J. Thomsen Benefit Fund, 933 North Ave., Waukegan, IL 60085. Phone: (866) 221-7113.
Diana Kuyper's column appears Mondays and Friday. You can email her at dkuyper4760@ msn.com.
