Hello,

My name is Nicole McLemore. I live in Durango, Colorado where I am honored to say my best friends, Benny and Valerie Aldrich, live across the street from me. Benny and Valerie are the most amazing people I know and they both mean so much to me. Benny’s huge heart, his infectious smile and Valerie’s wonderful personality and her genuine heart make you feel as if you have known them a lifetime. Benny is a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and a wonderful friend to everyone.

For over fourty years, Benny and Valerie have owned a custom, one of a kind jewlery buisness. Benny is the heart of their business, designing and creating all of their hand made pieces. He began designing and creating jewlery in the state of Arizona, where he and Valerie raised their four children. They eventually moved to Durango where they purchased a commercial building that housed their thriving business. Unfortunately the pandemic hit which caused financial hardship that they were unable to recover from. They had to sell their commercial shop and relocate their studio to their home. It’s been a struggle recovering from the pandemic, as production and sales have fallen tremendously. But as always, Benny and Valerie continued to push through the hard times and always continue to maintain hope.

Unfortunately, several weeks ago, Benny was diagnosed with aggressive stage 4 prostate cancer. He has recently been accepted to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, which will consist of an extensive amount of travel back and forth as he begins his treatments. Benny and Valerie will be traveling to Arizona this next week to Mayo where they will perform a body scan to see if the cancer has spread. The treatments and travel alone will be finacially draining as Benny and Valerie will be unable to work.

I have decided to set up this GoFundMe for Benny, to ease his finacial worries as he fights one of life’s biggest battles. Benny is one of my best friends and I want to help him however I can, as I know he would never ask for anything.

Any help would be welcome whether it be finacially, sending him words of encouragement through cards and letters, or just sending him love, keeping him and his family in your prayers. I know anything will be greatly appriciated by all.

Please click on the link above and see why Benny is so loved!

Thank you in advance for your generosity,

Nicole