Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Update: Dallas DuBose Memorial Fund

Dear Friends and Family,

This week, contributions to the Dallas DuBose Memorial Fund amounted to $575.00 bringing the total raised thus far to $6,086.44. We are close to achieving 25% of our annual goal of $25,000!

We'd like to mention that a portion of this weeks donations were made by Tri for Dallas. Tri for Dallas is a grassroots fundraising effort spearheaded by our niece Maggie and her husband, Kevin Kelly. Last fall, Maggie and Kevin participated in the Escape to Miami Triathlon in honor of Dallas and raised $275 for our worthy cause. They did this by requesting $5 sponsorships for their efforts. As Maggie put it, " For many of us that's about the same cost as a trip to Starbucks, but here your money will do so much more." As you can see from the list of families we've helped below, she was right. Thank you Maggie and Kevin for advancing our cause in your community.

Last week, your generous donations to Dallas' Fund made it possible for the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children to distribute $300 to another family of child fighting brain cancer. Thus far, we've been able to distribute $5,528.80 in assistance to 8 different families!

Here's what you made possible last week:

DATE--AMOUNT--TYPE OF ASSISTANCE


3/8/10--$ 300.00--Gift card and gas card; 6 yr-old diagnosed with anaplastic PNET 12/09; receiving chemo; completed 6 weeks daily radiation; father has custody and is primary caregiver; family relocated from Panama City to Gainesville due to child's treatment needs; father struggling with transportation and food costs.


Past distributions:


3/3/10--$1,588.36--Mortgage payment, water bill, car payment & car insurance; 4-yr-old diagnosed with anaplastic ependymoma 12/09; tumor progression 2/10; receiving chemo; family has many medical bills because patient had no insurance at the time of diagnosis.


2/22/10--$2,000.00--Property Insurance; 24-yr-old diagnosed w/ glioneuronal tumor 3/09; receiving chemo; patient recently graduated college; parents purchased COBRA insurance plan for patient; additional expense caused great hardship for family

2/26/10--$300.00--Gas cards; 12-yr-old diagnosed w/ JPA 7/07; tumor progression 8/09; receiving chemo; in clinic wkly; maternal grandfather is primary caregiver; lives approx 230 mi/round trip from hospital

2/26/10--$240.97--Electric bill; 7-yr-old diagnosed w/ oligodendrogliomatosis 11/04; tumor progression 8/09; receiving chemo; patient not yet able to attend school; mom is primary caregiver & unable to work; dad is working day labor when possible as he looks for full time employment

2/26/10--$600.00--Gas card & grocery card; 11-yr-old diagnosed w/ brain stem glioma 11/09; receiving chemo; traveling 480 mi/round trip for treatment; will start radiation soon and will then have to stay in Jacksonville for 4-6 wks of daily treatment; add'l travel expenses causing financial hardship

2/26/10--$300.00--Gas card; 10-yr-old diagnosed w/ germinoma 1/10; receiving inpatient chemo; father's is only income; mom primary caregiver; traveling approx 480 mi/round trip for treatment; preparing for 6 wk stay in Jacksonville for radiation; travel expenses creating great hardship

2/26/10--$199.47--Water bill; 18-yr-old diagnosed w/ anaplastic astrocytoma 10/08; tumor progression 8/09; receiving chemo; patient just completed stem cell transplant; guardian/sister unable to work while patient on treatment


Again, thank you so much for your generosity and efforts! As you can see, it doesn't take much to have a tremendous impact in the life of a child. Please keep spreading the word.

Gratefully,

Shel DuBose
Jessica DuBose
Larry DuBose
David DuBose

http://www.firstgiving.com/dallasdubosefund

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Dallas DuBose Memorial Fund of Brain Tumor Foundation for Children, Inc

Dear Friends and Family,

As the anniversary of Dallas' death nears, we have been searching for a way to turn the sorrow of our loss into a benefit for others. Thus, we are extremely pleased to announce the founding of the Dallas DuBose Memorial Fund of Brain Tumor Foundation for Children, Inc.

Approximately 2,200 children and adolescents in the United States are diagnosed with a brain tumor each year. That is more than 42 children each week. Aside from the devastating emotional effects, the financial impact to a family of such a diagnosis is enormous. Often times, one or both parent misses work or even loses employment. Costs associated with treatment (including transportation, lodging, food, etc) add up quickly and when added to the normal household expenses (i.e. groceries, rent, utilities), can place an added financial burden to an already strained situation.

It is our hope that the Dallas DuBose Memorial Fund, through it’s involvement with BTFC, will help raise money so that we may offer direct financial relief to families of brain tumor patients. Our fund will help pay household expenses (i.e. mortgage/rent, utilities, phone, car payments) to families fighting this deadly disease. To begin with, we will focus on assisting those families being treated at the UF Pediatric Brain Tumor Program at Shands (where Dallas was treated) and the surrounding North Florida area. We are very excited to give back to those who gave so generously to us and to hopefully alleviate some of the stress associated with caring for a child with such a serious illness.

We are launching the Dallas DuBose Memorial Fund by participating in the 13th Annual Race for Hope-DC in Washington, DC on May 2nd. The Race for Hope is a 5k Run/Walk benefiting the National Brain Tumor Society and Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. Our family, along with other family members and friends will be participating in the Race as Dally’s Dashers and our registration fees will benefit the Race for Hope.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Our initial fundraising goal is an aggressive one of $25,000 for the year. This amount would allow us to distribute a little over $2,000 a month to struggling families. We are asking that you become a “soldier” in Dallas’ army and sponsor us in our inaugural event by visiting this link to Dallas’ page: http://www.firstgiving.com/dallasdubosefund

We urge anyone and everyone to take part in raising money for our inaugural event…tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell your coworkers. Perhaps your club or organization, or your company or the company you work for, is looking for a cause they can support. In the coming weeks and months leading up to the Race, there will be other opportunities for you to become involved in various fund raising events such as bake sales, auctions, raffles, pong tournaments, etc. and we would be thrilled to have you join us in our efforts. No amount is too small; no effort unappreciated. For those of you in other communities who would like to take a more active role, this site might be helpful in providing some ideas: http://www.fund-raising.com/fundraising-ideas.php

Remember the estimated 2,200 children in this country that will be diagnosed with a brain tumor this year? They are your neighbors, your child's classmate, your niece, your nephew, your grandchild. Won’t you help us help them? It’s too late for Dallas, but his memory and spirit remains strong in us all. Your efforts and donations will ensure his legacy lives on.
Thank you so much for your support!
Sincerely,

Shel DuBose
Jessica DuBose
Larry DuBose
David DuBose


**For those planning to come to DC and participate in the race email Jessie DuBose at jessicadubose@gmail.com or Shel DuBose at sldubose@aol.com with your RSVP so that we may provide you with information on housing, events we are planning and costs estimates. We understand that these are trying times financially and that many of Dallas' friends are students so we have done a lot of research to attempt to tailor this trip to an affordable budget.
The deadline for online registration for the Race for Hope - DC is Tuesday, April 27 at 12 noon.

Please note the following links are only for those who are planning on participating in the Race and who want to register. All contributions should be made to the Dallas DuBose Memorial Fund at the link shown above.

Click here to visit my personal page.

If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/Events/RFH-DC?px=2255681&pg=personal&fr_id=1490&et=WigLJQBghPeiOoUXokKkzQ..&s_tafId=38260
Click here to view the team page for Dally's Dashers

If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/Events/RFH-DC?team_id=34490&pg=team&fr_id=1490&et=ziFGalpYPmDhJXbuvlPgIw..&s_tafId=38260

Friday, June 12, 2009

Tribute to Dallas

Many of you have asked for a copy of the slide show that was shown at Dallas' visitation and funeral. Here you go..............

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Song for Dallas
Music and lyrics: David DuBose


Verse 1
Momma told me today that you don’t always have to be so tough
And she was right, so I held on tight, sat down and cried
‘Cause you were always tougher than I was
And I wasn’t even close to second place
So I can’t help but feel sorry for you (when you got no more time to waste) x2

Chorus 1
You say your destiny, with a smile upon your face
And I haven’t heard you cry, in at least a thousand days
But you know, as well as I do
That it wasn’t fair to you
That it wasn’t fair to you

Verse 2
And I realized today that you were always trying to protect me
Hiding your pain inside, and I was always blind, to find out why
‘Cause you were always a better man than I was
And I wasn’t even close to second place
So I can’t understand why they’re taking such a man (when he’s got so much life to grace) x2

Chorus 2
And you say your destiny, with a smile upon your face
And you never questioned why, I never once heard you complain
But you know, as well as I do
That it wasn’t fair to you
That it wasn’t fair to you
That it wasn’t fair to you
That it wasn’t fair to you
That it wasn’t fair to you

Song for Dallas - David DuBose
(Click the link above to listen)
Safely Home

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over.
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder how I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh! but Jesus' love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me
In that ways so hard to tread;
and with Jesus' arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still:
Try to look beyond earth's shadows,
Pray to trust our Father's Will.

There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth-
You shall rest in Jesus' land.

When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!

Monday, April 27, 2009

David's 21st Birthday Party & Candle Lighting Tribute to Dallas
Because You Only Turn 21 Once!

Host: Larry and Shel DuBose

Start Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 7:00pm

End Time: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 12:00am

Location: 1753 Copperfiled Circle, Tallahassee, FL

Phone: 8502944894

Email: sldubose@aol.com

So we'll be sure and have enough burgers and dogs, please RSVP here or to sldubose@aol.com by noon on Tuesday, 4/28.

-Shel

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Celebration

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of their amazing support. It means so much to our family to see how loved and respected Dallas IS among so many. Although this is a hard road to travel for us all we are comforted by your continued thoughts and prayers. Dallas was an amazing brother to me and David and the least we can do to repay that honor is to pay tribute to him in all that we do.

In celebration of Dallas and David's birth and lives we would like to invite friends to our house at 1753 Copperfield Circle this Tuesday, April 28th at 7 PM for their 21st birthday. A cookout followed by a candle lighting and beer pong are on the agenda. We hope to see you all there.

And although Dallas is gone from us now, I hope you all realize that he did in fact beat Timmy. Timmy after all only gave him 3 months to a year to live in 2006. Dallas fought valiantly for nearly 3 years.

-Jessie