My friend Charlie has been a big inspiration to Les, (my husband) and I with his life story. We have known him for about 33 years.

Charlie struggled with addiction in his past and now mentors, addicts and troubled young men through a recovery group at Calvary Chapel Anchor in San Pedro, California, where he is a pastor.

His lovely wife of 30 years, AnnMarie, is his rock and partner. She is unable to work and was very recently diagnosed with early onset dementia, and feels the effects of this coming on more quickly every day, which is terrifying. As you can imagine, this news is devastating to them.

Charlie works at the church during the day, comes home to spend an hour or two with Annmarie and then works the night shift as a maintenance man at Hawthorne High School.

He has a son who is a single parent who needed transportation, and Charlie gave him his truck, which is now in need of repair. AnnMarie’s car recently had a blowout while driving which damaged the wheel and suspension. As a result, Charlie drives his motorcycle to work… And as luck would have it, it was stolen from his work Wednesday, December 3rd.

Charlie has a chronic sinus condition that requires surgery and a very expensive regimen of antibiotics every three or four months. As if all of this wasn’t enough, Charlie has recently been diagnosed with a heart condition that doctors have yet to be able to fully treat. The doctors have advised him to take it easy. Charlie’s reply was, “If I stop working, I cannot come get treatment anymore.”

Charlie is just in desperate need of a break. We are hoping to raise $7500 to repair the truck and purchase a used motorcycle so he can get to and from work every day.

Throughout all of these hardships, Charlie and Annmarie both continue to praise God for His provision and grace upon their lives. To me, they are the embodiment of the word faithful.

Would you be willing to help them out with any amount?