For my birthday, I’m climbing Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysia with my friends and patient survivors! And I need your support!
In 2005 when I took over the direction of The Max Foundation, I made one promise: to work as hard as I could and be as smart as I can, for as long as I can be of service to the organization. I thought I was giving all I had and then three years ago I realized there was more I could give: my birthday. Donating my birthday to The Max Foundation was one of the best decisions I have made, turning an otherwise gloomy moment (how old am I now?) into an exciting, hopeful and meaningful event beyond myself.
Now to this year’s birthday campaign, stats, and plans. My age: On July 28th I will turn 59 years old. The plans: to climb Mt Kinabalu in Malaysia on July 22-23 with an awesome group of colleagues, patient survivors and friends. My goal: to raise $25,000 USD on behalf of The Max Foundation. My ask: will you please donate and make my birthday wish come true?
I have never climbed a mountain before so one might ask why. The best answer I can find is in a quote from JFK in his Moon speech: “We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…” The truth is that we have been in this life journey together, those we call patients and those we call advocates, for more than a decade; and the reality is that we are one, united by a deep bond of love, and together we will conquer Mt Kinabalu.
I am grateful for your support and promise to give it my all. Learn more about Mt Kinabalu and please support me and donate now.
Pat Garcia-Gonzalez is the CEO of The Max Foundation. Under Pat’s direction The Max Foundation is dedicated to accelerating health equity by delivering medication, technology, and services to patients facing cancer and other critical illnesses, focusing our energy on those who no one else is helping. Pat lives in Edmonds, Washington, where she raised her four sons.
Suddenly, I noticed a man sitting just opposite to me staring at me. I thought he was annoyed at my loud voice. so I reduced my volume and kept on talking with my friend. While explaining, my eyes went towards the man. Again I noticed he was keenly listening to our conversation.
Finally the stop came! I got down with my friend and took 10 steps. I heard a voice behind me calling “Madam, madam!”
When he was initially diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, Prashant’s first concerns weren’t whether he would be able to afford treatment, it was about how much time he had left…years? Months? Would he be able to complete his degree? Would he be able to care for his father?
But his doctor reassured him. Treatment was available, and before he could worry about the cost of it, Prashant was connected with The Max Foundation and worked on getting enrolled in the access program we administer.
Launched in 2014, The Max Schooling Project (“Projek Sambung Sekolah” in Malay) enables the children of cancer patients to continue their educations and graduate from Form Five – the equivalent of high school in Malaysia.
