Hello, my name is Nick Clayton, I am a combat soldier in the IDF, a graduate from the University of Michigan, and I am proud to say that I am the son of the strongest, most dedicated person I have ever met, David Clayton. From Ironman races to 100k Ultra marathons, my dad enjoys spending his free time from work teaching spin class at the YMCA and training to be the most fit 60 year old I know. Three months ago, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer and since then has been receiving biweekly chemotherapy sessions at Lakeland’s Marie Yeager Cancer Center.

I recently took a month leave to fly home to be with my family and it made me realize that there are so many aspects to dealing with a family member with cancer...that can often be overwhelming. When one becomes an empty-nester, cooking and cleaning can become a chore when your loved one is having a bad week and you have no one to help keep you level. Among the typical tasks of cooking, cleaning, and fixing things around the house, one of my main tasks, while Home was to sort through all of my childhood things to decide what to keep and box up and what unnecessary things we could try to sell to make a few extra bucks to help with our rising medical bills. This led to me to become aware of the community my dad has become a part of through his generosity and kindness. When he needed, they came together to help provide meals so my mom wouldn't have to worry about physically cooking everyday and could focus more on how he was feeling. I realized now, that it is not just our family going through this, but also our friends and second families too and it is these connections that would help us get through this. That is why I am here to ask for your help. It is never easy to ask for money. Ever since I was young I have held one job or another, as it was important to my parents for me to learn the value of a dollar and to be self-sufficient, but sometimes there comes a reason to reach out. Honestly, anything you can give is greatly appreciated and will help so much, whether it be a dollar or kale for my dads new "favorite" smoothies. 

My dad is a survivor. He has more sheer will power and endurance than anyone I have ever met. I know that with your help, he will be using this story in the future to inspire others who are also struggling with cancer.