Kohlitz Family Support Fund (#ShavinShearman)
Ashleigh Kohlitz passed away on May 13, 2021 at the age of 34 following a hard fought seven year battle with brain cancer. She leaves behind her 4-year old son Caden, her loving husband, Brekan, and a love story for the ages (STORY BELOW).
I am Mike Shearman (Brekan's college roommate) and I have a beard. I have "always" had a beard, but if shaving may help ease Brekan's burden - let's do it. I will shave my beard (and cut my hair), if I raise $25,000 for the Kohlitz Family by Wed, May 26th, 2021.
*All proceeds will go directly to the Kohlitz family to support them in this trying time, with a declared purpose of creating a nest egg for Caden focused on starting a college fund for him*
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THE STORY OF ASHLEIGH & BREKAN KOHLITZ:
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Cancer Sucks. KickAsh. No One Fights Alone. Love Wins.
These are the lessons I learned watching (conveniently, and all too often regretfully, from a far) as my best friend Brekan and his Wife - Ashleigh Kohlitz - fought, with a tenacity unnecessary to be known to most of us, Ashleigh's stage 3 brain cancer from a month before their wedding day until her dying day, on May 13, 2021. Ashleigh was diagnosed in May 2014, at the age of 27. Think about that... #CancerSucks #KickAsh
Ashleigh fought stage 3 brain cancer for seven (7!) long, hard years. Their entire marriage was consumed by thousands of doctor visits, hundreds of procedures, tens of surgeries and countless sleepless nights -- all endured with the singular focus of beating the odds and a mantra of living for today, because tomorrow is not promised. And they did, for seven hard years. They did, when she went into remission in 2017 and miraculously birthed a baby boy, Caden (a healthy 4 year old boy today!). They did, when for nearly 2 years Ashleigh continued to return clean scans and Brekan, Ashleigh and "their miracle" Caden lived the closest thing to a normal life they would ever enjoy together. And they did again, when a growth returned in 2019 and she fought valiantly for almost 2 more years before finally succumbing to her disease, with Brekan, family and friends by her side. #NoOneFightsAlone
To me, Brekan and Ashleigh embody what love really is. Love is not easy, nor convenient. Love is not safe, nor guaranteed. Love is not about what you get, or even really what you have to give. Love is sacrifice. Love is elevating the needs of another above your own, regardless of consequence. Love is dangerous and vulnerable and a near certitude that you will feel pain. But love is worth it. Love was Ashleigh always telling Brekan "I'm doing pretty well", when she wasn't. Love was Brekan telling Ashleigh "it will be ok", when he he didn't know if it would be. Love is Brekan continuing to carry Caden to bed every night, just like he used to carry Ashleigh. #LoveWins
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MY OFFER:
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So, anyway, my name is Mike Shearman, Brekan is my best friend and I have a beard. I've had beard on and off since I could grow one, but I have had THIS particular beard for a very, very long time. I've had this beard so long, my partner (and other best friend!) has never actually touched my face. I've had this beard so long, Bitcoin was under $100 when I last owned a razor. In fact, I've had this beard so long, that the last time I shaved Ashleigh was cancer free.
In exchange for this beard, I am asking for everyone to reach into their hearts (and their google pay or apple pay, or whatever "pay" you want!) and make a small donation to Brekan and Caden, specifically for Caden's college fund.
If you can't donate, I understand, as everyone has had a tough year in their own way in 2020 and 2021 and lord knows we are all collectively ready to turn the page on it. Brekan and Ashleigh were big believers in positive energy and prayer, so please make sure to send positive vibes or send your prayers to Brekan and Caden (or drop a comment to the same effect).
With that all said, I am offering some tiered incentives to more quickly get us to the goal in mind. If we raise:
-- $5,000 -- I will (finally...) get a haircut!
-- $15,000 -- I will get a haircut and trim my beard...
-- $25,000 -- I will get a haircut and completely shave my face (*clean*)
***If any individual or entity is generous enough to donate $5,000 or more, you call the shots! I will make all efforts to enable such a magnanimous person (or company) to determine the manner and style of my "de-bearding", including but limiting endeavoring to include them in the event (and if located in Virginia this upcoming week, or the tri-state area anytime thereafter, I will come to you!)***
***If more than one $5,000 donation is received, first $5,000 donation will be the "winner" (but really, Caden wins, right!?!)***
***I intend to post a live feed video of "Quarantine Locks for #LoveWins: Cut & Shave Event" if we meet the goal***
***I am hopeful to be able to raise the money by NEXT WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021. In that case, Brekan himself may be able to hold the razor if we get to our funding goal!***
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I leave you with two quotes, one from Brekan and one from Ashleigh, both from 2017 for a story in the Richmond-Times Dispatch while they were expecting "their miracle" baby, Caden:
Brekan:
I couldn’t be more proud of Ashleigh, either, as she’s the toughest and most resilient person I’ve ever met. I often call Ashleigh “my angel” and our little baby boy on the way “our miracle” — and putting it together my saying is, “Only angels make miracles"... all I know is that no matter what happens, I’m blessed to be experiencing it with “my angel” and “my miracle.”
Ashleigh:
The thing I can’t wait for most is seeing Brekan hold our little guy for the first time. He is my rock, and this baby boy has shown us that through positive thought and prayer, miracles happen. And talking about miracles, it’s an absolute blessing that I’m now in the position to be able to experience the joys of being a mother, and I’m proud that I’ll be able to pass on all the life learnings I’ve gathered to ensure our little guy takes nothing for granted.
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ABOUT ASHLEIGH:
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If you'd like to know more about who Ashleigh was or what made her tick, please watch the speech that inspired her way back in 2014 at the beginning of her battle with cancer. You can visit the links below for the ESPY Speech, as well as an article she wrote on being an expectant mother after having survived cancer (along with one Brekan wrote on the same topic!). I am also including a link to her obituary:
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/timesdispatch/name/ashleigh-kohlitz-obituary?pid=198670866
https://newsadvance.com/news/state/ashleigh-kohlitz-on-becoming-a-mom-after-surviving-brain-cancer/article_b1b9c1b4-955b-5ffa-b1f7-42825cf7a850.html
https://richmond.com/brekan-kohlitz-on-becoming-a-dad-after-helping-his-wife-through-cancer-treatments/article_ddb2913c-2237-56bd-aaa4-8052a52526c3.html
https://www.v.org/2021/when-you-die-it-does-not-mean-that-you-lose-to-cancer-stuart-scott/
“WHEN YOU DIE, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU LOSE TO CANCER. YOU BEAT CANCER BY HOW YOU LIVE, WHY YOU LIVE, AND IN THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU LIVE” – STUART SCOTT
"Quarantine Locks for #LoveWins"
"Shavin' Shearman"
DISCLOSURE: I am one of Brekan's college roommates and teammates and, as the organizer, will NOT receive monetary benefit from this effort. I will give full control of any funds raised over to Brekan with the declared purpose of helping to support raising Caden as a single parent, including funding Caden's college fund.
