Bring Hope to the Benham Family This Christmas

**Benham Family Flood Recovery Fund: A Story of Strength, Survival, and Hope**

My name is Steven Termini, and I am a volunteer who took it upon myself to drive into the area of Western North Carolina despite the hardships in my own community (Greenville, SC) due to the storm. My goal was to volunteer my time in helping with disaster relief efforts. After a few weeks of doing that I had made contact with other volunteers that are vital to our network help today. I was provided some intel on families in one of the hardest-hit areas after Hurricane Helene. Taking that intel and making it my mission to find and help, I went in to do god work. That’s how I met Mikey and Lisa Benham and their two daughters, Rosalie and Delaney. What started as a mission to help strangers has turned into a bond that will last a lifetime. Over the past several weeks, I’ve witnessed their extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship, and I’m honored to share their story and ask for your support in helping them rebuild their lives and give their children a Christmas filled with hope.

Imagine standing at the edge of everything you’ve built—your home, your family’s future—watching it crumble. This is the story of the Benham family: Mikey, Lisa, and their daughters, Rosalie and Delaney, a family who, despite unimaginable hardship, continue to fight with unwavering courage.

Mikey’s battle began long before the floodwaters came. Diagnosed with leukemia, he faced months of grueling chemotherapy and radiation. His body weakened, yet his spirit remained strong. But the family’s challenges didn’t stop there. Mikey began experiencing severe breathing issues, and what doctors discovered next was devastating: black mold had invaded his lungs, a silent killer born from a hidden infestation in their home.

While Mikey fought cancer, Lisa became the anchor for their family, holding everything together for their daughters. They made the heart-wrenching decision to gut two-thirds of their home to eliminate the toxic mold, tearing apart not just walls but memories. The surgery to remove half of Mikey’s lung was a brutal blow, yet he kept fighting, refusing to let his illness define his family’s future.

Then, Hurricane Helene struck.

With relentless winds and torrential rain, the storm unleashed chaos. The nearby river became a raging force, swallowing everything in its path. By morning, their home was overtaken—floodwaters surged to nearly four feet, a massive tree crashed through the roof, and destruction raged around them. Yet even in this moment of disaster, Mikey didn’t falter.

Despite his weakened body, he sprang into action, securing their remaining car to a tree and leading Lisa, Rosalie, and Delaney through the floodwaters. His determination and love for his family overpowered his physical pain. He saved their lives that day, but the cost was tremendous.

When the waters receded, the devastation was complete. Their home was left in ruins—waterlogged, filled with debris, and infested once again with mold. Their possessions were gone, and the house they had fought so hard to save was destroyed. Yet, despite the destruction, the Benham family stood strong, unwilling to give up.

Now, as Christmas approaches, Mikey, Lisa, Rosalie, and Delaney face an uncertain future. They have no home, no belongings, and no way to give their children the joy of the holiday season. But they do have something powerful: resilience and the will to rebuild.

This is where we can stand with them. Your support will provide more than just material needs like furniture, clothing, and toys—it will provide hope. Every contribution will help this courageous family rise from the rubble and show them they are not alone.

Let’s give Mikey, Lisa, Rosalie, and Delaney the Christmas they deserve. Let’s remind them that even in their darkest moments, there is a community ready to lift them up. Your generosity can bring light back into their lives and fuel their fight to rebuild.

Thank you for standing with the Benham family. Together, we can turn their struggle into a story of hope and triumph.