BENEFIT DINNER, SILENT AUCTION & NEW DONATION LINK
By Mark Olsonawski

Hello Everyone,

http://www.dakmed.org/lendahand/benefit-events/

I want to take a moment and thank all of you that have been so kind to donate your hard earned money and bless us with your financial support through this journey. We are so grateful. Whether that support was through the gofundme link or sharing it directly. We are blessed and you are all so kind. We are attempting to get some thank you notes out before Christmas. But a thank you note seems like it's not enough for how abundantly blessed and supported we've been these past few weeks.
Thank you very much, Laura Pikop, for all your hard work & time in setting up the gofundme site to help assist us in the journey. You are a great friend and we thank you so much for taking charge and leading the gofundme account when our life was turned upside down and we were attempting to deal with so much unknown.

I also want to share that we'll be making a few changes to where you can donate funds going forward, if you so choose. With the help of many friends, we're now partnering with Dakota Medical Foundation and Lend A Hand to assist in a benefit dinner, silent auction and future financial support. They have a program that has a matching gift for donations received. Please see the link listed at the top and bottom of this page.
On this link please click the "Get Andi's Flyer". It'll share all the information of the upcoming benefit dinner, silent auction, opportunity to volunteer, etc...Thank you for your continued love, prayers and generosity. Our God is amazing! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. We'll never be able to say it enough. We are so abundantly blessed by great family, old friends, & new friends as we continue down this path.

http://www.dakmed.org/lendahand/benefit-events/



Believe...Miracles DO happen!
On Sept.11, 2015, Mark & Andi Olsonawski received the news that Andi has a large brain tumor in the middle of her brain.  In that moment, life as we know it changes.  In the short weeks since that shocking news, there has been an outpouring of love and support from Andi's hometown of Stephen, MN; Mark's hometown of Hallock, MN; Andi's Fargo NDSU Bison college athletics; Mark's UMC Crookston athletics; the Fargo-Moorhead communities; Holy Spirit School and Angel Hockey; and many others also just as important though they are not listed.  The love and prayers that are continually flowing around Mark, Andi, and their 4 beautiful children are keeping the strength and faith alive and glowing around them. 

Andi has been my friend since childhood.  I have always admired the will power and grit of this phenomenal athlete.  I now know God gave her a gift.  He created her to be an athlete.  The rigourous physical training she had and mental preparation, focus, and mindset that was molded to break records, and crash through barriers was all a part of God's greater plan.  I personally thank every coach and teammate that has been a part of Andi's career.  You all helped provide a foundation for her that would prepare her for this race...the race of her life. 

Mark & Andi have such a strong faith in God.  In the last couple weeks, that faith has been strengthened even more.  Their mindset, attitude, and love radiates from them.  Positive presence and faith in God's plan has set the tone for this battle. 

We have been contacted by those that want to show their support to Mark, Andi, and their family.  The GoFundMe account is being set up for those that want to give. Mark & Andi have been busy meeting with neurosurgeons and doing their homework to come up with the best plan for them to attack this tumor.  Currently, a date of Oct. 2nd has been set for surgery to remove part of this tumor at Mayo.   At this time, their neurosurgeon believes this tumor is cancerous; therefore, radiation and chemotherapy will be the treatments after surgery.  Although, we won't know the exact plan until after her surgery and tissue diagnosis.  "Please know that we are believing for complete healing and a miracle for Andi." Every moment of life is a precious gift to all of us.  Events like this, provide us for reflection and realization just how precious life really is.  This is going to be a rigourous marathon, and we want you to know how appreciative we are of your love, prayers, concerns, and support.  Thank you just doesn't seem to be a big enough word for what we feel.  Know that we love you and appreciate you.  Stay positive and believe in miracles. 
All proceeds will go directly to Mark & Andi to help with expenses they will incur. 
Andi's Caring Bridge Link