Join #TeamToski in support of the Brundage family

Kind Greetings -

We are JoAnna Williamson, Karen Brown, Cheryl Broadus Staples, Carol Broadus Moore, and Kay Payne. We represent the many friends, extended family, sorority sisters, church members, and other loved ones of Toski Bolte Brundage and her amazing family.

The Brundages have asked us to cover them in prayer as Toski battles stage 4 lung cancer. We want to respond and even be the answer to some of those prayers. Thank you for joining this circle of love we call #TeamToski. Here’s her story.

Some of us know Toski from her childhood in Columbus, Ohio. We knew her by her nickname, “Toy,” or as “Jon-Jon,” the pet name given by her father. Toski and her brother shared their mother as the neighborhood caregiver, Mom Bolte. Toski was a Tigerette with the East High School marching band and an active member of St. Paul AME Church.

Some of us met Toski at The Ohio State University, where she was part of the Elegant Eighteen line of women initiated into Theta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Incorporated.

Some of us met Toski when she moved to Cincinnati and became a dental hygienist and a member of Corinthian Baptist Church, and bonded with her Cincinnati AKA sorors.

Some of us know Toski as the wife of Charles Brundage, who she married 32 years ago. Some of us know Toski and Charles as the parents of 20-year-old Phoenix and biological siblings Jordan, 17, Naomi, 16, Noelle, 15, and Aliyah, 13, all five of whom they’ve joyfully and energetically raised since birth.

However you met Toski, you likely have your own story of how you’ve been affected by her smile, warm personality, sense of humor, compassion, spirituality, and love of life.

A Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis nearly 10 years ago led Toski to the tough decision to wind down her career and focus on body building self-care. The silver lining was that she also got to devote more time to what she enjoyed most: being a wife and mother. She remained determined to keep moving forward.

Now we’re determined to be her helpmates in confronting this latest life challenge. Your generosity will support Toski in focusing on the emotional and physical strength she’ll need for this cancer journey, by helping manage the concerns that lay heavy on her heart:

• Medical bills, including medications, parking, out-of-pocket expenses and insurance co-pays, and extra care for Toski when she’s able to be home between stays in hospitals and rehab facilities. Cancer treatment is EXPENSIVE.

• Helping Charles be a caregiving husband, while at the same time single-handedly managing the daily needs of his full-time job and a bustling teen-age household (meals, transportation, extracurricular activities, academics, homework, appointments, special events, etc.).

• The nurturing support needed for the Brundage daughters to cope with this sudden traumatic life upheaval.

• Day-to-day expenses. Charles transitioned into a second career as a school teacher years ago to have more flexibility for parenting. However, as he handles his family priorities in the midst of this overwhelming situation, the extra flexibility needed is often in the form of unpaid time off.

However you know Toski and the Brundage family, we are so grateful for your monetary contributions to their well-being through this GoFundMe page. Please leave a comment if there are any other ways you’re willing to help, too.

Also, will you consider sharing this link (via social media, email, texts, phone calls, face-to-face asks, etc.) with others who may know Toski and her family? Even those in your own circle who don’t know them may relate to this story and contribute if you’re kind enough to take a few moments to ask them.

Toski and Charles are grateful for you being part of #TeamToski. We believe the love they’ve given so freely will come back to them full circle.