Help Randall fight cancer

Hi, my name is Heather and I'm glad you are here to support Randy. :-D

You probably know Randall Venturini as a gifted musician -- an integral part of Pittsburgh's jazz and rock music scene from the 1980s through the mid-2010s. He has spent decades of his life entertaining us with music. If you heard live music in Pittsburgh over the years, you likely saw him on stage.

He is also my former bandmate and partner, and now my best friend. We met in 1999 when I began working on my first album. He's one of the weirdest, most generous, authentic, upright people I know -- keenly tuned in to matters of justice and environments. He'll step in to break up a fight. He'll stop everything to admire the clouds in the sky. He'll listen with full acceptance. He's quick to laugh and kid around but respect is 100% earned. And, his sense of timing in music and what a song needs to make it work is unparalleled. He's got musical taste for miles. I could go on….

Last autumn, Randall had emergency abdominal surgery. After the hospital tested and retested the material they removed, the pathology report came back showing a rare b-cell lymphoma. After some blood tests and a PET scan the cancer appears to be early on and/or relatively contained. The initial treatments designed to keep this from progressing rapidly again are a series of infusions. His oncologist believes he will still be able to work part time, although we have to see how he responds.

The cost for prep and treatment is $45,000.

If you know Randy well, you know he's never one to ask for help. However, I know intimately how isolating, expensive, and emotionally exhausting it can be to deal with health challenges and I wanted to find a way to support. I created this GoFundMe to allow Randy's and my community (that's you!) to show him all kinds of love and assist him financially through this overwhelming, critical and uncertain time. It is greatly needed.

I'll be sure to post updates here over the next while.

With my deepest gratitude and appreciation for your care,

Heather