My name is Kirk Cram and I am starting a fundraiser for my father Gregg Simon.

In August 2022 my mother Leona Simon was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer, turning her and my father’s lives upside down. Given 6 - 12 months to live, my Mom’s life became a fight, doing everything she could possibly do to survive, while actively trying to prepare for the loss of that fight. My 70 year old father’s life went from being a stonemason, to being a caregiver for my Mother, while also still trying to work whenever possible in order to make ends meet.

On February 13 of this year, my mother passed. As a family, we are all still grieving a month later, but are starting to come to grips with our new reality. Unfortunately, in addition to losing his wife and business partner of nearly 35 years, my father is in a poor financial situation too. The house he helped build and has lived in for more than 30 years will need to be sold, but payments on the mortgage need to continue to be made until that time. In addition to this, my father has a vehicle payment, and credit card debt that was incurred over the last six months of my mother’s life.

My father is working hard to put a life together for himself in a world without his wife. He’s determined to resume work, even if it isn’t as physically intensive as it has been in the past. He’s putting work into taking better care of himself, something that largely went by the wayside when my mother was diagnosed. The biggest obstacle in his life is currently money.

Myself and my brothers are working to help my father make his monthly payments for his mortgage as well as credit card bills, but we need help. Money raised through this fundraiser will be used to help my father in this time of need. The money will go to helping him meet his monthly expenses while negotiating the legal process.

Thank you for your consideration and help, Kirk