The Brian Harkness Medical Fund
Donation protected
Keep the Miracle Alive: The Brian Harkness Medical Fund
Ask! Come on, we dare you, just ask…see what you get!! From Brian Harkness you’ll get whatever he can give and then some, delivered with an enormous heart and no conditions. That epitomizes the spirit of the man we have known for fifteen years.
Now Brian needs our help. After being exposed to Agent Orange while serving as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam, Brian was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004, and it quickly metastasized to his lungs. He has valiantly been fighting that battle ever since. Today, with over 2000 hours of chemotherapy infusions and multiple rounds of radiation completed, Brian has been told by his current medical team that he has six to nine months left to live unless some other solution or treatment can be found. Conventional medicine has run its course, and he needs other options. There are many reputable programs that exist today that provide alternative treatments for Brian and others like him, but those programs are very expensive and are not covered by insurance. A group of Brian’s friends and supporters has created this fundraising campaign in hopes that Brian will be able to receive the treatment he needs.
We are urgently asking for your help in raising money so that Brian can participate in an alternative treatment program that has demonstrated success in treating cancer patients after conventional medicine has given up on them. Our goal is to raise $50,000, but any amount we can raise will help with these medical expenses. Any contribution you might be willing and/or able to make to the campaign to provide Brian with this treatment will be deeply, deeply appreciated.
Brian has always been passionate about community service, and has dedicated himself to trying to make the world a better place. “It’s not about me,” he says, “but others. I can’t help anyone if I can’t live longer.” One of Brian’s dreams is to walk his beloved niece Regina down the aisle at her wedding in June of 2017, and our goal is to help him enjoy that moment, and have many happy and productive years to come.
Brian is a lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. He descended from a great-great grandfather who came to California from Illinois as a horticulturist during the Gold Rush era, bringing fruit and vegetable technology to the miners and residents of the gold rich foothills. Born on the island of Alameda in 1949, Brian settled into a life with his parents along with his five brothers and sisters, and was raised in the family home in San Lorenzo; a small community in the East Bay south of Oakland, California. An avid participator even at a young age, he was a member of the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and loved sports. From grade school through high school he played football, basketball, baseball and was on the swim team. Between the ages of ten and fourteen, he took judo lessons and competed at a state level, becoming the state of California Judo Champ at twelve years old! Still, Brian is driven by a passion for sports, following all of the local teams. However, above all, Brian considers himself as one of the most devoted San Francisco Giants fans who lives today.
After graduating from high school, Brian enrolled at Chabot College, and later enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam as an infantry combat Marine. Serving with a ground infantry unit in the mountainous jungles of northern South Vietnam, Brian was exposed to the unavoidable horrors of infantry warfare, along with coming into regular contact with many of the chemical defoliants used by U.S forces. Although it would not become apparent for decades, those exposures ultimately led to many of the medical problems Brian has been dealing with for the past twenty-five years, especially the ones we are asking for your help with today.
After Vietnam, Brian came home and returned to college. Working part time and receiving benefits from the G.I. Bill, Brian eventually graduated from Chabot Junior College, married his high school sweetheart, and then attended and graduated from California State University Hayward. He also completed all of the requirements for his MBA. It was here that Brian began his long career in Accounting and Financing, which lasted until he retired in 2003.
In the early 1990s Brian’s medical problems began, more than two decades after his exposures in Vietnam. It was determined, in 1994, that Brian had been an undiagnosed diabetic for, likely, two years or more. In 1999 he had a heart attack, which lead to quadruple bypass surgery four years later in 2003. Earlier that year, mid 2003, a precancerous growth had been discovered in his colon. Brian’s medical team decided to table that concern until after the heart surgery, scheduled for later in the fall. In January of 2004, once recovered from the heart surgery, he underwent another procedure to remove the involved portion of his colon. Unfortunately, the growth had not only evolved into cancer, but had also spread into his lungs. Starting in March of 2004, Brian began chemotherapy treatments. Chemotherapy and radiation have been a part of Brian Harkness’ life for the past twelve years. He has tried all of the various types of chemo drugs known to show positive results for his kind of cancer. In December of 2016 he will have completed his most recent round of radiation, the doctors having decided to suspend any future chemo until new drugs can be identified and considered.
For over 18 years Brian has belonged to an organization called MDI, which stands for Mentor, Discover, Inspire. It points men towards achieving their dreams and being successful as a Man, a Father, a Son, a Husband; therefore, enhancing their relationships, their families, their jobs, and their communities as a whole. The ultimate goal is to serve humanity and make the world a better place to live in.
Brian feels his work is far from being done in those regards. In 2015, while visiting Lourdes, France with friends and family members, Brian participated in a ceremony where he was lowered into holy water. Before being dunked, Brian spoke a wish: “That all his loved ones and people on Earth be healed before him.” He meant it, but he is also hoping that he can accomplish much more during whatever time he may have left.
Thank you for taking a few moments of your valuable time to read and learn more about Brian Harkness. We hope you will join “Team Harkness” by contributing whatever you can to the Brian Harkness Recovery Campaign.
Ask! Come on, we dare you, just ask…see what you get!! From Brian Harkness you’ll get whatever he can give and then some, delivered with an enormous heart and no conditions. That epitomizes the spirit of the man we have known for fifteen years.
Now Brian needs our help. After being exposed to Agent Orange while serving as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam, Brian was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004, and it quickly metastasized to his lungs. He has valiantly been fighting that battle ever since. Today, with over 2000 hours of chemotherapy infusions and multiple rounds of radiation completed, Brian has been told by his current medical team that he has six to nine months left to live unless some other solution or treatment can be found. Conventional medicine has run its course, and he needs other options. There are many reputable programs that exist today that provide alternative treatments for Brian and others like him, but those programs are very expensive and are not covered by insurance. A group of Brian’s friends and supporters has created this fundraising campaign in hopes that Brian will be able to receive the treatment he needs.
We are urgently asking for your help in raising money so that Brian can participate in an alternative treatment program that has demonstrated success in treating cancer patients after conventional medicine has given up on them. Our goal is to raise $50,000, but any amount we can raise will help with these medical expenses. Any contribution you might be willing and/or able to make to the campaign to provide Brian with this treatment will be deeply, deeply appreciated.
Brian has always been passionate about community service, and has dedicated himself to trying to make the world a better place. “It’s not about me,” he says, “but others. I can’t help anyone if I can’t live longer.” One of Brian’s dreams is to walk his beloved niece Regina down the aisle at her wedding in June of 2017, and our goal is to help him enjoy that moment, and have many happy and productive years to come.
Brian is a lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. He descended from a great-great grandfather who came to California from Illinois as a horticulturist during the Gold Rush era, bringing fruit and vegetable technology to the miners and residents of the gold rich foothills. Born on the island of Alameda in 1949, Brian settled into a life with his parents along with his five brothers and sisters, and was raised in the family home in San Lorenzo; a small community in the East Bay south of Oakland, California. An avid participator even at a young age, he was a member of the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and loved sports. From grade school through high school he played football, basketball, baseball and was on the swim team. Between the ages of ten and fourteen, he took judo lessons and competed at a state level, becoming the state of California Judo Champ at twelve years old! Still, Brian is driven by a passion for sports, following all of the local teams. However, above all, Brian considers himself as one of the most devoted San Francisco Giants fans who lives today.
After graduating from high school, Brian enrolled at Chabot College, and later enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam as an infantry combat Marine. Serving with a ground infantry unit in the mountainous jungles of northern South Vietnam, Brian was exposed to the unavoidable horrors of infantry warfare, along with coming into regular contact with many of the chemical defoliants used by U.S forces. Although it would not become apparent for decades, those exposures ultimately led to many of the medical problems Brian has been dealing with for the past twenty-five years, especially the ones we are asking for your help with today.
After Vietnam, Brian came home and returned to college. Working part time and receiving benefits from the G.I. Bill, Brian eventually graduated from Chabot Junior College, married his high school sweetheart, and then attended and graduated from California State University Hayward. He also completed all of the requirements for his MBA. It was here that Brian began his long career in Accounting and Financing, which lasted until he retired in 2003.
In the early 1990s Brian’s medical problems began, more than two decades after his exposures in Vietnam. It was determined, in 1994, that Brian had been an undiagnosed diabetic for, likely, two years or more. In 1999 he had a heart attack, which lead to quadruple bypass surgery four years later in 2003. Earlier that year, mid 2003, a precancerous growth had been discovered in his colon. Brian’s medical team decided to table that concern until after the heart surgery, scheduled for later in the fall. In January of 2004, once recovered from the heart surgery, he underwent another procedure to remove the involved portion of his colon. Unfortunately, the growth had not only evolved into cancer, but had also spread into his lungs. Starting in March of 2004, Brian began chemotherapy treatments. Chemotherapy and radiation have been a part of Brian Harkness’ life for the past twelve years. He has tried all of the various types of chemo drugs known to show positive results for his kind of cancer. In December of 2016 he will have completed his most recent round of radiation, the doctors having decided to suspend any future chemo until new drugs can be identified and considered.
For over 18 years Brian has belonged to an organization called MDI, which stands for Mentor, Discover, Inspire. It points men towards achieving their dreams and being successful as a Man, a Father, a Son, a Husband; therefore, enhancing their relationships, their families, their jobs, and their communities as a whole. The ultimate goal is to serve humanity and make the world a better place to live in.
Brian feels his work is far from being done in those regards. In 2015, while visiting Lourdes, France with friends and family members, Brian participated in a ceremony where he was lowered into holy water. Before being dunked, Brian spoke a wish: “That all his loved ones and people on Earth be healed before him.” He meant it, but he is also hoping that he can accomplish much more during whatever time he may have left.
Thank you for taking a few moments of your valuable time to read and learn more about Brian Harkness. We hope you will join “Team Harkness” by contributing whatever you can to the Brian Harkness Recovery Campaign.
Organizer and beneficiary
Marc Korchin
Organizer
Oakland, CA
Brian Harkness
Beneficiary