Fundraising Efforts

As many of you know, my husband, Shaun Thistlethwaite, died in October after a two year battle with colon cancer. But did you know he was a basketball coach? In fact, he took his high school girls team to the elite eight two years in a row and might have had a champion team if we hadn't moved away. Shaun believed in supporting scientific research (whew! considering he married a scientist) but Jimmy V's message also spoke to him. Coach Jimmy Valvano said " Don't give up, don't ever give up." And Shaun truly embraced that sentiment and never gave up despite his battle with cancer.

In 1993, The V Foundation for Cancer Research was established by ESPN and the late NC State basketball coach Jim Valvano. Their mission is to save lives by helping find a cure for all cancers. Since their inception, they have raised more than $90 million for cancer research, 100% of which is awarded to cancer research and related programs. Cancer does not discriminate and if trends continue, it will strike one of every two men and one of every three women in the United States in our lifetime. Therefore, volunteers (including myself) are joining together to create a fundraising event to benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The Never Give Up Fundraiser will be held February 4, 2012, at the Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL. We sincerely request your consideration of support for this event and The V Foundation in Shaun's honor and memory.

The schedule of events is:

12:00pm-4:00pm- Silent Auction

1pm- Elgin Community College Women's Team vs. McHenry County College
3pm- Elgin Community College Men's Team vs. McHenry County College

We are looking forward to a great day of women's and men's basketball and raising funds for a great cause. Please help by donating an item for the auction, a check, or your time to this great cause. All checks can be made payable to "The V Foundation".

Please mail donations to
Melissa Thal
1451 Marcy Ln
Wheeling, IL 60090



Thank you so much for your consideration and support. I know Shaun was proud of the work done by this foundation and eager to support those who never give up.

Best Wishes,
Melissa

The V Foundation for Cancer Research is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization. Federal Tax ID number 13-3705951
www.jimmyv.org