We as a loving family have decided to create this gofundme in an attempt to raise money for our stepfather, Rick Smith as he begins his battle with 2 different staged blood cancers.

Rick began his retirement from New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYS DOCCS) - Moriah Shock - in September 2018 with many hopes of travel and peaceful living with my mother, Tina Smith (Latour). Rick and Tina had so many more hopes of site seeing and pool/seaside sitting. If you know Rick, you will know the selflessness and love he gives everyday to his family especially to his beloved wife, daughter, step children, siblings and MOST OF ALL, his grandchildren. You would also know that music even though his health issues- has been his saving grace as he is the bass player for the local band, “Just Us”. Rick has given tirelessly to protect and love the world around him.

This news that we received earlier this month has devastated our family. We were not ready. Rick has been diagnosed with follicular lymphoma and multiple myeloma at the beginning of June 2024 after about 7 months of other medical complications that eventually led to these devastating discoveries. Rick has to have 2 major surgeries (kidney stone removals and pace maker replacement) before he can begin the first journey on his plan of treatment - which is to treat the large mass found in his stomach with chemo and radiation to shrink it’s size. Throughout these medical procedures Rick will begin to work with a Follicular Lymphoma Oncologist at Memorial- Sloan Kettering in New York City while maintaining primary and cardiac care in Plattsburgh, NY. The amount of co-pays and travel have already begun to deplete the savings and income that Rick has worked his entire life for - As, you can imagine, Rick had other hopes.

We are usually the type of family that gives and takes care of our communities but at this point we are asking our communities to help in hopes to relieve the financial burden that these devastating diagnoses have begun and will continue to mount for Rick and Tina. These cancer diagnoses are weight enough and relieving the financial stress will allow Rick to focus on fighting for his life.

As of right now our family does not plan to have a benefit as these events can also be time consuming and cost money to hold. Time and Money are not the things that are at our family’s expense right now as we band together to support Rick and Tina. If that changes and a charity/fundraising event can be figured out- we will update this gofundme page. Please understand that these funds will only go directly to paying medical and travel/lodging costs. Rick and Tina would like the community at large to know that if there are funds that are left over from being raised after Rick fights through this fight with cancer, they plan to donate it to a local Cancer fund to further help others in the same position they have found themselves in.

Please check back for updates as we plan to update as often as Rick sees and encounters medical professionals through out his treatments.

Also, please join us in supporting through donation and sharing to help in the fight for Papa Rick’s life!

F*ck Cancer!!!!