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Thank You!

Thank You!

... by Buster Moldenhauer


Introduction: I wrote this letter shortly after a motorcycle fundraising event in 2000. The details are, perhaps, less important than the feeling of purpose and accomplishment we can obtain when we go about doing God's work and surrounding ourselves with like-minded people. 

October 9, 2000

Dear Friend;

Last Saturday, at the start of the Blue Ridge 500 motorcycle touring event, I turned in your contribution to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States and more dollars from my other friends and my own monetary contribution. Together we have made a difference! With your help, I captured the title of “Top Fundraiser” in this year’s event. I have attained this honor in each of the past four years and it is an achievement of which I am very proud. The event raised more than $34,000 this year, a 54% increase over last year’s total! Thanks again for your help!

More than the personal pride I can take in raising a lot of money for the fight against childhood brain cancer is the very warm feeling I get knowing that my efforts and your generosity are making a difference in the lives of these children and their parents. At the closing ceremony of this year’s event, we were visited by Melanie Hatch, an 11-year-old sweetheart from Illinois. Melanie’s mother, Loretta, told us the story of this brave and wonderful little girl.

At the age of 5 months, Melanie was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and given 6 months to live. A few months later her tumors began to affect other body functions and the Doctors were willing to try a new drug because there was really no other hope for Melanie. The fact that Melanie was with us last Saturday night is the rest of that story about how research led to a new therapy that saved this child’s life.  Recently, Melanie got the bad news that inoperable tumors had returned to her brain and the good news that there are brand new drugs that appear to be very promising for Melanie’s particular type of cancer. Was this little girl saved by research you and I paid for?  Is it likely that you and I will be responsible for finding a way for Melanie to grow up and lead a normal life? You betcha; and if you had gotten the hug I got from little Melanie last Saturday night you’d know exactly why it makes me so happy and proud to do this work.

Thank you so much for your contribution to my favorite charity. Thank you for helping these children in their fight. Thank you so much for buying me those hugs I get from these kids; they are the greatest gifts you can imagine!

Sincerely,



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