James Van Der Beek diagnosed age 46 - stage 3 - died age 48

Chadwick Boseman diagnosed age 39 - stage 3 - died age 43

Catherine O'Hara died age 71 from a complication to colon cancer

Kirstie Alley died age 71 shortly after diagnosis with colon cancer

Audrey Hepburn age 63 - colon cancer

Charles M. Schulz (Peanuts) - age 77 from a complication to colon cancer

Fred Eiselstein (Woodstock IL Police Officer and family friend) died age 56

Colon Cancer doesn't discriminate and is now the LEADING cause of cancer-related death for men under 50 and the second leading cause for women under 50. In fact, it continues to be on the rise, nearly 3% every year. This according to the Cancer Research Institute.

This is the case that has shook our family. The Chicago Bears did an unimaginable 4th quarter comeback defeating the Minnesota Vikings that November Sunday. Bears winning 19-17 - a game I will never forget - not because of the time expiring field goal but because the next day, on our drive home, Laura got the call, it was cancer.

When you think about what you were doing on that November Sunday, the buzz of the holidays approaching. It wasn't that long ago. Laura made a deal with her son, he can go to his FIRST ever Vikings game and she was going to figure out a way to pay for his Florida orchestra trip in February 2027 but he had to make some sacrifices as well, a much smaller Christmas. Laura made the first payment to the Orchestra trip for her son, my nephew and 11 days later, the phone call came. Colon Cancer.

Now, Laura and her family are making the ultimate sacrifice, battling stage III colon cancer. December 26th she had her PITA tumor resected, shortly after was the port, more testing and then started chemo. Six

months, twelve cycles, 36 days of chemo. It wasn't just a smaller Christmas but the start of survival. Rather then paying the budget plan for my nephews orchestra trip but she is forced now to make all of the copays, the buses, cabs, trains, prescriptions and well, life, with TWO teenage boys.

She is lucky and thankful as she has great health insurance coverage but all of the little things add up when you miss a few hours of pay and trying to save/pay for a Florida trip her son has been working for since he was 8.

It costs roughly $55 a month for Laura to take the train (that is if no one goes with her to her treatment).

Buses, cabs add up too, depending on the chemo schedule.

Prescriptions - yikes!

Every day cost of living, hard for us all, we know.

Her other son continues to work 20 hours a week while finishing up his junior year of high school, so he can pay off his car maintenance debt and have a car to drive to help his mom with the little things, like driving his brother or running to the store. It all adds up.

We, as a family, are doing what we can to assist. I know for Laura, every penny gets accounted for and is gone just about the same day it hits the account. The family has sacrificed a lot. I would love nothing more then to get my nephew on his orchestra trip, my other nephew's car fixed and a month coverage of train rides for my sister during her FIGHT with stage III colon cancer.

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month - March 6th is Colon Cancer Awareness Day - Look at your poop - talk about it - and FIGHT.

Sharon Osbourne FOUGHT and WON

Morgan Freeman FOUGHT and WON

Fred Grandy FOUGHT and WON

Mark Hoppus (Blink 182) FOUGHT and WON

Laura Heinrich FIGHTING and WILL win.