Let’s Rally to Support Lee Riley in His Battle Against Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer

Hello! I am a member of a chat room where I work, which my colleagues and I have dubbed “Lee’s Care Team.” We have established this page to share a request for a teammate and dear FRIEND in need. Our hearts are heavy, but we have hope that with your help, we can make a significant difference in Lee’s life.

Just a week before Christmas last year, Lee Riley was admitted to the hospital with what doctors first thought was a case of pancreatitis. In addition to severe abdominal pain, his oral diabetes medications weren’t working to keep glucose in check anymore. Something was terribly wrong. Unfortunately, subsequent scans led to a diagnosis of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. In stage 4, it had already metastasized to form several lesions in his liver. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of the disease, with much shorter survival rates even post-treatment. Because of the advanced stage, chemotherapy is the only viable option, and Lee has already undergone several rounds of treatment at Novant Health Wallace Cancer Institute in Salisbury to fight it.

But Lee and his husband of 35 years, Bobby, aren’t going to take this prognosis lying down. There’s so much more of their long story together still to be written and celebrated! That’s where they could use your gracious help in this journey. Beating the odds will take expensive standard medical treatments, travel to other states in search of second opinions and clinical trials, and overcoming the burdens of medical expenses not covered by insurance. In addition to the medical costs, Lee’s ability to work has been significantly reduced, further straining finances.

Your Donation Will Help:

• Pay for local transportation to and from frequent treatments and appointments

• Offset the significant fuel, lodging, and meal costs required on long road trips from North Carolina to the renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New Jersey

• Finance out-of-pocket copays including specialized medications (such as insulin, which has doubled in price since January), and critical medical expenses that accumulate weekly.

• Reduce household financial burdens created by this tragedy and allow for family caregivers to travel and to stay with Lee & Bobby in their time of need, so that Bobby can continue to run his small business without major interruption

We have created this GoFundMe campaign to ask for your support during this difficult time. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in helping Lee cover his mounting medical bills and ensure that he receives the best care possible. We understand that times are tough for many, and we appreciate your generosity and compassion. Even if you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this campaign with your friends and family.

Your prayers and positive thoughts are also greatly appreciated. We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have already received. We believe that with the help of our community, Lee can fight this battle and have a chance at a brighter future.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.