Welcome to David's Legacy Fundraiser 2025.

Meet the Recipients:

Anna Sophia and her mother.

When Anna Sophia was born she was diagnosed with spina bifida and cerebral palsy. She has a challenging and complex health situation that has made daily life very difficult.

Her mother is her sole caretaker. She dedicates her life as a single mom to Anna Sophia’s daily care and navigating the complex world of healthcare, education, and insurance.

Anna Sophia’s mother has been unable to secure full-time employment due to the fact that she dedicates almost all of her time and effort each day to caring for her daughter. She has been blessed to have some support from family and friends, but is in need of a miracle to help cover some significant expenses.

We’re daring to dream big this year. Our goal is to raise $25,000 for Anna Sophia and her mom.

These funds will be life-changing. They will be used for:

1. Medical supplies and equipment expenses

2. Maintenance and repairs on their only vehicle

3. Paying off debts

4. Educational resources for Anna Sophia

5. Creating some family Christmas memories

Thank you for joining us in keeping David’s legacy alive and making a difference for a family in need.

READ MORE ABOUT DAVID...

On November 27th, 2018 David Robert Oakes passed away in his childhood home in El Cajon, California, after a 2+ year battle with Stage 4 Glioblastoma brain cancer.

During his cancer journey, David experienced extremely difficult symptoms including loss of feeling on the entire right side of his body, brain fog, memory loss, loss of speech, intense headaches, nausea, seizures, the effects of chemotherapy and medication, loss of mobility, and more.

David’s brain cancer diagnosis didn’t stop him from enjoying life or continuing his adventures. He managed to fight cancer and go parasailing, go on a cruise, go indoor skydiving, sail on the Pacific Ocean, snorkel with sea turtles, and watch a sunset on the top of a Hawaiian volcano. He treasured precious moments with his niece and nephew and his family.

He developed a reputation among doctors, nurses, and other hospital patients as a strong, cheerful, bright, and kind soul who lifted all around him with humor and positivity. In the most difficult of circumstances he exhibited great faith and grit, and made the work for those caring for him easy and deeply meaningful.

We love and miss David. But, he lives on in the hearts of his family and friends.

On the anniversary of his passing each year, his family does a service project in his name -- David's Legacy Fundraiser.

Each year we look for an opportunity to serve individuals or families with profound needs. We carefully select beneficiaries that we can support to in ways that will drive lasting impact, increase their quality of life, decrease suffering, and help them feel loved.

In the last six years since his passing, family and friends have raised over $40,000 that has blessed dozens of families with extreme trials and desperate needs.

Here are a few highlights from past projects:

$1,500 in donations and truckloads of supplies for Congolese war refugees and families in Tecate, México whose homes were destroyed by a fire.

$4,500 in donations for Christmas gifts for four families of children with cancer through a partnership with the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children.

$12,000 for families in Peru suffering from extreme medical complications and poverty. The projects included wheelchairs, medical beds, home additions for handicap accessibility, and more.

Over $6,000 for a young boy in Chile to build a wheelchair accessible addition to his home, a specialized wheelchair, medical supplies, and travel expenses for a special surgery.

Appliances and home goods for 10 families in Chile who lost their homes in a flood.

And more!

With each donation we have shared David's story with the recipients - and how he has been the inspiration for so many to donate and bless the lives of those in need.

This year we will be selecting a family or families in need and we would love your support as we seek to answer the prayers of someone experiencing true hardship.

Thank you for helping David's legacy to live on! ❤️

If you'd like to see more of David's journey and stories of the past service projects, check out his Instagram: @droakes

You can also watch his memorial service on YouTube: David's Memorial Service.