Mark Howell, the founder of Fund a Life, needed himself. Just a week after the birth of her son, Howell had a football-sized melanoma removed.
“The network found out about all of this and they gave Array a fundraising crusade on our behalf, and he raised $200,000 over the next 18 months, which literally funded my life,” Howell said. “I mean, if you call a cancer clinic, I’ve definitely been there. “
The money gave Howell and his family access to a second opinion and new solutions for his Level 4 diagnosis. In 2015, Howell created Fund a Life, which has since provided $1 million in the form of 96 grants to network members in need.
“When I went through that adventure to a point where I felt pretty good, I thought something like that existed for other people,” she said. “Maybe I have an exclusive network of people, just because of where I live and what I do. “”I’m done with my life, which I can use to help other people. “
For some, the cash is used to purchase specialized equipment, fund new treatments, or even help families pay for funeral expenses. Like Robert Roszell and his family, Robert was diagnosed with ALS and was able to take advantage of the Fund a Life program and pay for it. Go ahead.
“Our grant was $10,000 that helped them get an advanced vehicle that was available to other people with disabilities and that would allow Robert to continue to move with his family,” Howell said. “The vehicle that they were using lately, they found another family that could use the vehicle with ALS, and they donated that van, and it was kind of a domino effect, and that’s what Fund a Life stands for. “
Fund a Life operates with its own fundraising and donations. You can fill out an application on their website. A panel of volunteers reviews those programs and awards this funding.