Bridging the financial gap until VA disability kicks in

Shane Chappelle served 4 years on the USS John F. Kennedy. He worked extensively with AFFF, a foam used to prevent fires aboard ships and landing aircraft carriers. In 2024, he was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. There is a direct link between exposure and this cancer. His genetic markers came back negative, further proving this is due to the PFAs (forever destructive chemicals he was exposed to in the Navy).

Shane never activated VA benefits because he felt he was never in a war and saved those resources for true victims. Now, he is a victim of government negligence. They knew in the 1970s how deadly this chemical was but continued using it for another 20 years.

2 weeks ago, a biopsy confirmed the worst fears: he now has stage 4 metastatic carcinoma consistent with pancreaticobiliary primary. Without chemo, his life expectancy is 3-4 months, and with chemo, 6-12 months.

Good news, we were able to get his VA benefits started, but it will take at least 1-3 months to become active. This Wednesday, 6-17-26, he gets his second port placement. He will be treated with 3 very strong chemos to give him a little bit of extra time on this earth.

Many have asked what they can do to help. The intent of the fundraising is to give them a financial cushion until his VA benefits start. He will not be able to work. He worked through his first cancer battle and doing chemo, but due to these 3, he is not going to be able to work.

He is the most selfless man any of us have ever known.

Please share this in hopes we can take away some burdens and stressors in his life right now.

Thank you and may God bless you.