Vince Sartor, Brain Cancer Fund
Our childhood mate Vince has terminal brain cancer. He has been fighting this disease for several years, but unfortunately it has been in vain. Not only has the cancer ravaged his body both physically & mentally, it is now apparent that his numbered days will be plagued with financial stress as he contemplates how his family will survive without him. This is not how he should be spending his time.
Joe & Alex have taken up the cause to change this situation by putting themselves through the endurance challenge of a 300km bike ride on the 6th of November to raise funds to help relieve this burden from Vince & his family. We challenge you to support us in donating any amount to assist us in this selfless endeavour. All donations will go directly to Vince & his family.
Sandra (Vince's wife) has kindly provided an outline of Vince's journey thus far. Her insights give a raw account of the emotional rollercoaster that they have endured & the horrible fallout that has already commenced. Not only is Sandra devastated about the anticipation that their two sons will become fatherless, but she also worries that Vince's limited time will be marred with money concerns.
Our situation, even though it isn't unique, is tremendously difficult to explain. You see, our lives have been split into two. There is the carefree and oblivious life before cancer, and then there's the cruel life with cancer. Vince's fear is the life the boys and I will have after cancer. Every breathing moment, his life is consumed about what life will be for us once he is gone. He is terminal and he dares not voice his prognosis. Saying it out aloud makes it really real. He has beaten cancer twice. The second time around was very short-lived. He was cancer-free for three joyous, but very short weeks. I share this to highlight the aggressiveness of his brain tumour. Two stints of chemotherapy and a seven-week radiation therapy regime just won't make it budge. This current third round of chemotherapy is simply to buy him more time. Our love story is no longer our forever story and is marred with an end date way too prematurely.
Life is now lived with this constant state of foreboding which casts dread over what's ahead. We are stripped of a future, of dreams and plans. Whilst many lament that Covid prevents them from travelling, when life is doomed to be cut short, it robs us of memory making opportunities. Cancer and Covid is a heartbreaking situation. At a time, when we should be surrounded by family and friends, and be comforted with the touch of human contact, we go through this plight alone and scared beyond belief.
Vince's life is timed! He is now in a frenzy. In the words of his physician "Put your affairs in order." If you stop and think about this for a minute, the physical and emotional feat is massive. This is beyond simply getting your Will developed or updated. Preparing an Advanced Care Medical Directive is soul destroying. You can't think. You can't breathe. Every fiber in your body is screaming against having to do this, but you have to push through. It is inevitable. Vince's nobility throughout this process is testimony to his ever-present desire to always put me and the boys first.
Joe and Alex, Vince has only one final wish. He appreciates and understands how his passing will leave a financial burden on me. To put it bluntly, it scares him shitless. He rattles his brain on how I am going to make it. I think that he feels that this is something tangible that he can do something about. He is trying to sell off everything that he has to prop up funds for me and the boys. Watching him do this, watching him sell things that give him happiness, joy and wonderful memories, pains me so much. I can only imagine what it is doing to him. I think it is for this reason that he embraces your offer to fundraise through a bike riding challenge. I don't dare tell him that my biggest fear is not the financial challenge that I will experience. My biggest fear is loneliness and living the next thirty years without him by my side.
We all know that Vince is the kindest and most giving person. He personifies independence and finds it almost unfathomable to ever ask for help and support. He is one proud man, and your offer to help him in helping me and the boys allows him to come up for air. It reduces so many pressures that he places on himself. Fancy having to think about money during your remaining time on earth! I want his thoughts to be stress-free ones, to think about the good times with me and the boys.
Joe and Alex, thank you so much for making this happen.
