T-Shirts Available
Curecasey.org t-shirts are available for $25!
Small/Medium/Large/X-Large
Mail a check payable to Alison Kelso
12558 Legend Lakes Drive
Roscoe, IL 61073
or purchase online with Paypal
Spin4Casey Spin Class
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009 - Spin4Casey
4 to 5:30 p.m.
Gym rats, cyclists and mountain bikers alike will dig this inspiring indoor ride. Sweat it up and get in a good workout for a good cause. All funds raised go to Casey’s chemotherapy fund.
$25 a person. Sign up and pay with this PayPal button:
Coyotes Athletic Center
SE Corner of 99th Ave. & Mcdowell
9897 W. Mcdowell Road, #G
Tolleson, AZ 85353
623-907-9889 but 602-326-1261 for information
Participants, as well as friends and family members who want to join the fun, are welcome to meet at 3:30 at 1141 W. Lynwood St. in Phoenix (13th Ave./1 block south of McDowell Road) to carpool to the gym.
Can’t make it? Sponsor a cyclist with a $25 donation to pair with a participant’s contribution.
Or partake in the Donation Match Challenge and match current donations of $500, $400, $300, $200 and $100.
The event features lots of delicious food afterward, the spin class itself and a live auction with lots of swag, including:
a $20 gift card to REI
2 Trek Vapor bike helmets from Landis Cyclery valued at $55
1-month individual or family membership to AZ on the Rocks, valued at $160
2 VO2 max tests from endurance coach Darrin Permenter valued at $100 a piece
An entry into the Tour de Scottsdale, a great road race put on by DCB Extreme Adventures
An entry into the 12-hour Dawn to Dusk mountain bike race put on by DCB Extreme Adventures
A women’s Luna jersey from LUNA Chix of Phoenix
A free bike tuneup at South Mountain cycles
Patagonia Men’s suntech shirt (large) valued at $85
Patagonia Men’s Simple Synch Jacket (medium) valued at $185
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kari Redfield, 602-326-1261, or kari AT curecasey DOT org
Posted 5 months, 2 weeks ago at 9:28 am. 4 comments
Spin4Casey Press Release
Press Release
Jan. 15
Contact:
Kari Redfield, 602-326-1261
kari@curecasey.org or go to curecasey.org
Spin4Casey to Raise Money for a Friend Battling Rare Cancer
Phoenix - Last September, 30-year-old Casey Kelso, a software engineer in Phoenix who loves climbing, biking and other outdoor adventure, was diagnosed with a rare cancer. After his diagnosis, Casey received another shock. Although his physicians believe that a specific course of chemotherapy is necessary to save his life, his insurance, Principal Financial Group, refuses to cover the treatment.
Meanwhile, Casey battles on with his friends and family to raise money for his life-saving treatment that costs $10,000 for each three-week round.
The next fundraiser, Spin4Casey, organized by the Luna Chix of Phoenix women’s cycling group, will be held at Coyotes Athletics Centers, SE Corner of 99th Ave. & McDowell, 9897 W. McDowell Road #G, Tolleson, Ariz., Saturday, Jan. 31 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Funds raised will go directly to Casey’s chemotherapy fund.
A $25 donation is requested.
“Whether you’re a road cyclist, gym rat, daredevil mountain biker or just trying to stick to your New Year’s Resolutions, this event is sure to inspire and excite,” says Karen King, an event organizer. “Come and sweat it up for a good cause.”
During the evening, a live auction will feature swag from sponsors, including: two V02 max tests from coach Darrin Permenter of Coyotes Athletic Centers, a $20 gift card to REI (rei.com), 2 Trek Vapor bike helmets from Landis Cyclery valued at $55 (landiscyclery.com), 1 month individual or family membership to AZ on the Rocks, valued at $160 (azontherocks.com, passes to the Tour de Scottsdale road biking race and Dawn to Dusk mountain bike race, a woman’s Luna jersey, a free bike tuneup at South Mountain cycles, a Patagonia Men’s Suntech shirt, a Patagonia Men’s Simple Synch Jacket.
Family and friends are invited to attend, even if they can’t spin, to enjoy the party-like environment, bid on items and enjoy food and drink.
Posted 5 months, 2 weeks ago at 5:32 pm. Add a comment
Climb4Casey Press Release
Press Release
Dec. 30, 2008
Contact:
Kari Redfield, 602-326-1261
kari AT curecasey DOT org or go to curecasey.org
Climb4Casey at Phoenix Rock Gym Will Raise Money for Friend Battling Rare Cancer
Phoenix - Last September, 30-year-old Casey Kelso, a software engineer in Phoenix who loves climbing, biking and other outdoor adventure, was diagnosed with a rare cancer. His friends and loved ones are rallying together to support him and need your help.
A fundraiser, Climb4Casey, will be held at Phoenix Rock Gym, 1353 E. University Drive, in Tempe, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 11, from 7 to 10 p.m.
The fundraising is necessary because Kelso’s health insurance company, Principal Financial Group, claims that the chemotherapy treatment (using the drugs Gemzar and Taxotere) is experimental, and refuses to pay for lifesaving treatment that costs $10,000 for each three-week round. Kelso’s tumor is non-differentiated, but factors indicate that it is a soft-tissue cancer called leiomyosarcoma. Gemzar plus Taxotere is the preferred treatment for leiomyosarcoma, and gives Kelso the best chance.
While the Kelso family of Rockford, Ill., battles with the insurance company, his loved ones and friends are paying for treatments out-of-pocket.
Climb4Casey is sponsored by the owner and managers of Phoenix Rock Gym, who have generously offered use of the gym and trained staff.
“It will be mean fun and laughter for diehard climbers, newbies and families alike,” says Mark Stiles, a friend of Kelso’s who helped organize the event. “If you’ve thought about climbing, then come, give it a try. The staff of Phoenix Rock Gym is there to help get you started, and plenty of experienced climbers stand by ready to show you the ropes—pun intended! And if you’re a climber—well, come on down! It’s for an absolutely wonderful person.”
The evening will feature lots of swag, such as: a Blue Water Eliminator 10.2×60m, Bi-color, Double-Dry climbing rope and rope bag from Arizona Hiking Shack (hikingshack.com); a day of AMGA-guided climbing in Cochise Stronghold courtesy of Geir Hundal (climbarizona.com); original artwork; a 1-hour massage from licensed massage therapist Chris R. Thrush; an outdoor climbing trip with guide Mike Knarzer (outdooradventuresaz.com); a $50 gift certificate and beer steins from Four Peaks Brewery (fourpeaks.com); swag from AZ Cliff Hanger climbing shop (azcliffhanger.com); $25 gift certificates to Casey Moore’s Oyster House (caseymoores.com); $20 gift card to REI; a VO2 max test with coach Darrin Permenter of Coyotes Athletic Centers (coyotesathleticcenters.com); several passes to Phoenix Rock Gym; a #2 camalot from Black Diamond; and more.
Frank Hertz, a local resident whose life has been changed by a loved one’s cancer, will make a $500 match if someone donates $500 the night of Climb4Casey.
“Let me just say what a tremendous individual Casey is,” says Marcy Makarewicz, who helped put the event together. “He will go out of his way to help anyone and is one of the most amazing people I’ve had the fortune of knowing.”
Donations are also welcome on the website, curecasey.org.
The follow-up is Spin4Casey, an indoor bicycle spinning event, scheduled for Jan. 31 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Coyotes Athletic Center in Tolleson, Ariz. Participants can register at curecasey.org. This event will feature lots of swag and food, as well as tons of biking fun.
Posted 6 months ago at 11:02 pm. 3 comments
Good News!
On Dec. 10, 2008, Casey returned to Rush University Medical Center for a whole body bone scan and CT scan of his chest, abdomen and pelvis. The CT scan results were read by the radiologist, and the next day Dr. Kent gave Casey some great news. The primary soft tissue tumor in his leg adjacent to the ischium of his pelvis has been reduced from 8.5 cm at the largest diameter to 6.9 cm.
[A little bit of math ... for those uninterested skip ahead :)]
If the tumor is volume estimated by the volume of a sphere, and the volume of a sphere is calculated by V=4/3(PI)r^3 where r was 4.25cm and now is 3.45cm the volume has changed from approximately 321 cubic centimeters to 172 cubic centimeters. This would be 46% reduction in volume! (Note: Casey is an engineer. These calculations come easy for him.)
The tumor is not a sphere, so this estimate isn’t completely accurate. But even a modest estimate would yield a 25-30% reduction in the tumor’s volume. This is exciting news as the odds of any chemotherapy being effective in even stopping a high-grade STS tumor from growing are unfavorable. The fact that the tumor is shrinking at such an aggressive rate is completely against all odds. It’s practically a miracle. The chemo is also active in reducing the iliac chain / lymph node in Casey’s hip, which is a secondary area of concern. (Cancer tends to spread to other regions of the body through the lymph nodes, so keeping this infection-free is important.)
The results prove that this treatment plan is effective in reducing the primary tumor. Although Principal Financial Group has shutdown the appeals process between them and Dr. Paul Kent, Dr. Kent is appealing to Principal once again with a letter explaining the good news + additional scientific data backing his treatment plan.
With these good results, the treatment plan is to continue with the chem drugs Gemcitabine and Taxotere, but no Avastin as this third is prohibitively expensive (about $8,000 a pop. Go to the “Donation” link for a full look at the financials of Casey’s chemotherapy. It’s a real eye-opener.) With any luck, Gemcitabine and Taxotere together will continue to be active in treating the tumor without Avastin.
Dec. 11 is day #1 of chemo for round #3. (ding) (ding) (ding)