Main fundraiser photo

Friends of the Kochs

Donation protected


Have you ever heard of the cancer Rhabdomyosarcoma? Neither have most people and/or doctors. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue cancer is not only VERY rare, but it’s very uncommon in adults. Bill Koch was diagnosed with this rare cancer and it was found that there are only five medical facilities in the world known to have the knowledge and expertise to treat this cancer – in addition to there being only approximately 400 documented cases throughout the last 20 years (worldwide).

Most people may never meet a man as special as Bill Koch. This person has ALWAYS given of himself first. His entire family has been a monumental asset to our community and have been a prime example of the goodness that does exist in humanity – even if we rarely get to see it. From consistently working at, and supporting the VFW Post and all other veteran’s activities, regardless of their personal schedules - to just “being there” when someone needs something – Bill & his wife, Nancy, are truly the epitome of what it means to be “good people”.  These "good people" have never asked for anything from others.  Now's the time for us to be as kind as they have been throughout their lives and give them some support.

 After undergoing what was supposed to be a routine removal of a cyst on the back of his throat, Bill received devastating news. He has this rare and difficult to treat cancer.  He is also one of the very rare instances of it being found in an adult. Bill has gone to, and will continue to have to go to ,Texas MD Anderson Hospital in Houston. 

He underwent eight 5 days of eight hour cycles of a grueling and, needless to say extremely expensive 
chemotherapy. This lasted for months. He lost his hair but, NEVER his spirit. All this time he has to go to Texas for tests, and meetings with his “team” to determine what will happen next. After a second surgery Bill is now undergoing 6 additional weeks of radiation in Texas in June and just learned there will be additional treatments following.  This entire time he has incurred insurmountable expense and been unable to work. As a self-employed person on private health care, there is no disability or other company benefit available to him.  The business he spent so many years building has to be dissolved - and not in the big corporate way many may think. There are no secret assets to make this any easier on him and his family.

Through all of this Bill has had his devoted wife Nancy by his side as well as the rest of his family and close friends. Please, let’s try to ease the burden on these wonderful people who for years have done so much for others. Their focus has been on keeping their day-to-day lives as normal as possible for their young grandson, Ryder, who they are helping raise. Helping them keep a small sense of semblance in their lives would be a huge gift! Your participation in this fundraiser will go a long way toward this cause.  
 
There is no donation to big or too small. Through coming together we can make a positive difference in the life of a positive, dedicated, wonderful person – and show others that there is a little more humanity around us than we might believe there is!

100% of all money proceeds will go directly to benefit the cause.

If you should have any questions, please feel free to reach out! For your reference, our FEIN number is 82-1653763.
Donate

Donations 

  • Eileen & Jim Massimilian
    • $100 
    • 6 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Connie Varon Cunningham
Organizer
New Lenox, IL

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.