By Sue Moore
Taylor VanSchoick Honored
To celebrate this season of giving, lots of friends of Taylor VanSchoick, a 2009 Vicksburg High School graduate, combined to give him the gift of love by feting him at a recent gathering at Indian Run Golf Course. Taylor is suffering from his third bout of cancer, this time with very expensive COBRA health insurance. He has the most positive attitude imaginable, given what he has been through with this latest round of chemotherapy, primarily administered to keep the cancer from growing instead of attempting to wipe it out.
His parents, Jerry and Patsy VanSchoick, are just as positive and were grateful that so many of their friends showed up at the event to support Taylor. Their close friends and family organized the fundraiser along with many of Patsy’s classmates from the Vicksburg High School 1983 graduating class. It took everyone pulling together to make the evening successful, co-organizer Sheri Freeland said. Many donations of food and items for raffle went to raise money for Taylor’s travel expenses and housing as he is receiving treatments in Detroit. He has had to go as far as California and Texas in hopes of finding a cure.
Members of the Jag Band combined with others for the entertainment and Indian Run Golf Course closed down to regular guests for the Saturday evening in November. They did so much to make the evening a success, said Freeland. A.J. LaPort, Taylor’s cousin, and Paul Bush joined Toby Hardy and Dave Reno and played for over seven hours.
Taylor’s family and friends filled the dining room during the five-hour open house.
Drew Forsyth Battles Cancer
Another young person from Vicksburg, Drew Forsyth, was diagnosed with colon cancer early in October and he too did not have health insurance. His parents, Tina and Larry Forsyth, have spent years volunteering for others less fortunate in the greater Vicksburg community. This time it was natural for their friends to give back to Drew, especially members of the Vicksburg Rotary Club who took up a collection to help cover some of his expenses. The good news is that Drew is recuperating well and is back at the job at KCSB he started just before the cancer diagnoses was made.
Jason Myers Treated for a Brain Aneurysm
A benefit dinner for Jason Myers, a 1989 Vicksburg High School graduate is being held on Saturday, December 7 in downtown Three Rivers. He suffered a brain aneurysm burst in September. He had to be airlifted to the University of Michigan Medical Center for major brain surgery. Jason and his medical team have worked hard to restore him to good health and believe he has turned a corner. Tickets for the catered dinner are $25 each and can be obtained by calling the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce office, the Village Auto Wash in Schoolcraft or Vetter McGill Chevrolet in Three Rivers. For more information, folks may call 269-207-5212.
The Tradition Continues
The 2019 Tree of Lights, sponsored by South County Community Services since 2013, is a fundraiser to provide direct assistance and support to families in need in this area. The SCCS can identify those in need without publicly stating their case for assistance.
There are so many ways to give. The people of this area have come to the aid of less fortunate many times over. At this time of year, we who are able to do so gladly share by setting such great examples of love and kindness to each other. By opening our pocketbooks or just doing good deeds that no one but the recipient knows about, we benefit just as much.
We live in a special community.