Help Al Foul Overcome Throat Cancer

Dear friends and family,

We need your help. In early December, Alan Curtis – aka Tucson musician Al Foul – was diagnosed with Stage 4B throat cancer. Almost immediately, the tumor in the right side of his neck grew rapidly. On December 30th, an egg-sized mass entangled with affected lymph nodes had to be removed. 

On February 8th, Al started seven weeks of simultaneous chemotherapy and radiation. If he acts quickly and undergoes this treatment process, his chances are very good: The prognosis is a very challenging, but potentially curable cancer. 

Treatment will be grueling and painful. Radiation will burn off his taste buds, damage his salivary glands, and impact muscles that control swallowing, speaking, speech … and singing. Al is also undergoing extensive dental work to protect and preserve his teeth and jawbones, which will also be at risk. The chemo drug Al will be taking also carries a significant risk of permanent partial hearing loss. 

Can you help us support Al and his partner, Hannah Levin, through these challenges? The pandemic – and Al’s weakened immune system – limit our options to provide comfort and assistance. But not the simplest, fastest way to help: Your financial donation. Hannah and Al have asked that friends please DO NOT drop off food at their house, since they will have to take their meal plans day to day based on Al’s changing needs. Instead, the fundraising team is asking that you please make a financial donation, so our friends have the flexibility they need.

Since March 2020, Al has lost all revenue as a performing artist to COVID-19. Previously, Al supplemented his income with his small furniture-building business. He will not be able to return to work for the foreseeable future. 

To be hit with a life-threatening medical crisis—plus the stress of navigating the healthcare system during a global pandemic—means access to care is protracted and many traditional elements of assistance and support are unavailable.

While Al has some health insurance, there are many costs that are not covered, including the dental work and rehabilitation, including the potential need for speech therapy, hearing loss treatments, or equipment.

Our first goal is to raise $20,000 to help Al. This will cover: 

Dental Care: $6,000 
Post-Treatment Rehab: $9,000
Lost Income: $5,000

Anyone who knows Al or seen him play live knows his positive outlook, and he is facing this crisis with humor and an optimistic attitude. Nor is he alone: Hannah has been with him every step – caring for him during medical treatment, and running their household, while working full-time at KXCI Community Radio.

Al is beloved by friends, family and fans. Working together, we can help Al survive this ordeal. Please, give what you can to help our beloved friends recover after an unthinkable year – and get Al back to charming the hell out of audiences, in Tucson and beyond.  

Thank you for helping save Al’s voice – and his life. 

Love,

Cat and Kristen

P.S. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this GoFundMe effort so we can ask for help from as many people as possible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts – You will make a massive difference to people who give so much to our communities.