In October of 2019, our only daughter, Alexis Bezilla, lost her battle with brain cancer after nearly three years of chemotherapy and radiation. She never gave up and even on the worst of days she held her head high and refused to be known simply as a cancer patient. She never complained about what she was enduring and always wanted to make sure everyone else was taken care of first.
When it was clear that nothing else could be done, she challenged April and I to do whatever we could to help St. Jude in their tireless battle to cure cancer. St. Jude was there through it all and her wish was to support them in order to help families through their own cancer journeys. During our time at St. Jude, we never had to pay for meals, housing or travel. They were able to cover those costs through donations which allowed us to focus on being a family and making Alexis comfortable.
For the past four years I have ran the 5K at the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. This year I am taking my support to the next level and need your help more than ever. I am fortunate to be part of group of St. Jude supporters that will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in October of 2024. I have set my fundraising goal to $12,000 and with you help and generosity I know it is achievable. Alexis will be with me the entire trek and if all goes as planned I will be summiting a week before the 5th anniversary of her earning her wings. I can think of a better way to carry on her legacy of helping others.