This past May, Kim (aka "Beef") Shelton (Scott) received news that changed everything:

She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Stage 4 colorectal cancer — a life-altering diagnosis that came and has since set her on a path filled with uncertainty, fear, and requiring immense strength.

In just a few short weeks, Kim will undergo a major surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. This procedure is expected to last several hours and will be followed by a long recovery in the hospital and at home. The surgery is just the beginning. After that, Kim will begin three months of chemotherapy and radiation — a treatment plan designed to give her the best chance.

Kim has always been independent, grounded, and resilient — small-town with deep roots in the Rivermines and Irondale area. She graduated from Central High School in Park Hills in 1978, and for the past 25 years has called Irondale her home.

She never imagined that her retirement years would be spent fighting for her life.

What should be a time of peace and stability, being a mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend, has instead become a cycle of doctor visits, imaging, lab work, pharmacy runs, treatment planning, and now — preparing for invasive surgery and months of post-operative care.

The Hidden Cost of Cancer

Although Kim has health insurance, the financial burden is staggering.

Each trip to St. Louis — sometimes multiple times a week — comes with fuel costs, time, and physical strain. On top of that, copays for specialist appointments, hospital stays, labs, imaging, surgery, and a growing list of medications are quickly adding.

And these aren’t one-time costs. They are ongoing, unpredictable, and only expected to grow as treatment continues.

This fundraiser was created to help relieve the financial pressure on Kim so she can focus on healing — not on whether she can afford the next appointment, prescription, or scan.

How You Can Help

If you know Kim, you already know she’s tough — not one to ask for help or draw attention to herself. But this is one of those moments in life where community, friendship, and even the kindness of strangers can mean everything.

Whether you know her well, once crossed paths, or just feel moved by her story, your support matters.

Please consider contributing what you can and helping spread the word. Imagine if this were your parent, your sibling, your friend. Imagine the difference it would make to know they weren’t in this fight alone.

Let’s show Kim that she’s surrounded by people who care — people who will help carry the weight when it gets too heavy to bear alone.