Home Builders Consider Fundraiser For Cancer

BY JOE KIRKENDALL, Times-Union Staff Writer

At a scheduled general membership meeting Tuesday for the Builders Association of Kosciusko-Fulton County, Rich Freeman, of Warsaw, will present information regarding a cancer fundraiser he recently began.

Freeman, in collaboration with the Indiana University Cancer Center in Indianapolis, launched the benefit in hopes of raising money for the center’s cancer research programs.

After hearing news of Freeman’s fundraiser, the local Builders Association expressed interest and invited Freeman to present additional information to its members before deciding further action.

“The amount of support I’ve already received from the Builders Association has been overwhelming,” Freeman said. “A lot of the organization has been affected by cancer, and they truly know what this effort is trying to accomplish.”

In 2003, doctors diagnosed Freeman with Hodgkins disease, a now curable form of cancer, which 20 years ago was labeled as a fatal medical condition.

After eight months of successful treatment and rehabilitation, Freeman again became cancer free. As more and more of his friends and relatives became affected by various forms of cancer, Freeman decided something must be done.

“One night I was traveling and learned that a friend’s sister passed away from uterine cancer, and shortly after that found out another friend’s wife was discovered with brain cancer,” Freeman said. “I went back to my hotel room thinking, ‘this is ridiculous; too many good people are dying from this; too many family’s are being affected.’

“I called my wife and we both agreed that something had to be done.”

Freeman’s fundraiser now works to promote the study of cancer treatments and prevention through the Indianapolis-based cancer research center.

“What I like about this program is that 100 percent of the donations go towards cancer research. The university doesn’t charge any overhead costs or fees, so no money is lost,” Freeman said.

Anyone interested in the fundraiser can contact Freeman by sending an e-mail to beat.cancer@earthlink.net An information packet will be sent along with a monthly newsletter updating the university’s research news.