Purpose Driven Wives

Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Lesley Redman. I live in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin with my husband Tike, and two daughters, Jalyn and Imani. Our oldest, Jalyn, is our cancer surviving hero. From the day that Jalyn was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) our life changed forever. Through the struggle my own family went through, my eyes were opened to a whole new world. It never even occurred to me what a family actually goes through when their child is diagnosed with cancer. I always thought “getting chemo” meant you go to the hospital for an appointment and then you go on with your day.  Read More...I never realized that it is a life altering experience. I spent sleepless nights in the hospital watching over my daughter as the doctors would try to find the right medication to sooth her little body. As a parent, it is a full time job to be your child’s best advocate and comforter.  Over the course of Jalyn’s eleven month treatment plan, we would spend two weeks in the hospital and another two weeks at home while her body recovered. Our experience pales in comparison to what other families go through. Having a child with cancer affects the entire family. The last thing I wanted to worry about were our finances when my little girl was fighting for her life….but that was not reality. With more time being spent away from work and bills increasing due to extra needs, it is estimated that as many as fifty percent of families with children battling cancer will be forced to file bankruptcy.

That statement is not a statistic to me, rather a reality to families that I learn about on a daily basis.

Since Jalyn’s journey fighting cancer, I have turned over a new page in my own life. It is important to me to turn a negative situation into a positive one. I believe that through my family’s journey, I now have a passion to reach out to families in need and make a difference. In March of 2010, I was given the opportunity to open a local chapter of a national non- profit organization, Foundation for Children with Cancer. I am very proud to be the Executive Director of Jalyn’s Chapter, here in Wisconsin.

The mission of Foundation for Children with Cancer is to provide financial assistance for the families of children with pediatric cancer. By providing tangible and direct financial support, such as mortgage payments, insurance premiums and utility bills, families are given a greater opportunity to focus on their child’s treatment and recovery.

We are honored to have the Milwaukee Brewers Wives host the 2011 Grand Slam Golden Mixer this summer!

The Grand Slam Golden Mixer will be an event to remember in Wauwatosa on Sunday, July 31st 2011, 5PM-8PM. Brewer’s Wives will welcome guests with a  red carpet entrance beginning. The community support given by this group of women, has now been extended to help raise awareness and funding for Foundation for Children with Cancer. Guests will enjoy various food buffets, unlimited video game play, and above all a possible opportunity to mingle and play games with participating Milwaukee Brewers players. There will be many more activities along with a great selection of silent auction items! Come out to Dave & Buster’s for  a Grand Slam of a time while helping out an essential cause!

Please visit our event website at www.tinyurl.com/GSGM2011

Tickets are limited and available now!

 If you cannot attend, we appreciate any gift of a donation to help ensure a successful event. Our tax id # is 43-1688473

We invite you to learn more about Foundation for Children with Cancer at www.childrenwithcancer.org  Families in our communities where we live and work are in need of our help. Together we can make a difference in their lives. We thank you in advance for your support and willingness to help us help others.

See you on July 31^st!