THIS LIFE MATTERS – Lemonade Fund June 2020
M. was smuggled to Israel from Sudan in 2011. He had become an activist against the Sudanese government (after witnessing the murder of his parents, siblings and oldest child,) and it was dangerous for him to stay. The resistance helped M. reach Israel, and once here he was detained and then granted political asylum. Despite his rescue he was distraught about abandoning his wife and two young children in Sudan. Finding work was challenging, and then in 2015 M. was diagnosed with breast cancer (1% of breast cancer occurs in men.) He received treatment at Israeli hospitals and was released.
A few years ago, with the aid of a local charity that helps refugees, M. was able to relocate to subsidized housing in Jerusalem where he found work. He suffers from PTSD, nightmares and psychological problems, in addition to a slipped disc and diabetes. He is obsessed with worry about his family.
M. was referred to the Lemonade Fund after being diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer this year, which has made it impossible for him to work. By June, M. had a balance of 23 shekels in his bank account. He will qualify for National Insurance disability payments, but this help isn’t immediate. Until it comes through, the emergency grant M. received from the Lemonade Fund last week will afford him dignity and calm while he undergoes treatment.
The Lemonade Fund gives emergency financial support to needy Israeli breast cancer patients, of any race, religion, age or sex, so that they can focus on recovery.
Your donation will also help us continue our special program: TAXI RIDES FOR ISRAELI CANCER PATIENTS DURING CORONA.
(Learn more: https://lemonadefund.org/2020/05/04/free-taxi-rides-for-cancer-patients-during-corona-stories/
Photo of Clinic for Refugees run by Israel Magen David Adom
“…It was a very unusual experience to discover such great deeds from people.”
Dear Lemonade Fund:
My father fell ill with a very aggressive form of cancer over six months ago. We were having trouble coping with the shock of the diagnosis and dealing with the treatments, the new situation…when suddenly a new crisis arose – Corona.
This world that we are trying to deal with as cancer patients, we are already dealing with a more complex reality in addition to Corona! Our nuclear family was struggling to figure out how to deal with it all. And then came the contribution, the taxi rides from the Lemonade Fund, (funded by a generous grant from the Inbar and Marius Nacht Foundation.)
I have no words to thank you for this rare work of yours, which has allowed my father to get to his chemotherapy treatments. It has enabled him to fight for his life.
My father lives in Haifa, but the doctor who is expert in his aggressive cancer works at Ichilov Hospital (Tel Aviv.)
Corona threatened my father’s chance to fight for his life due to having to undertake this long journey with a compromised immune system. And then during a time without public transportation after it was cancelled. And then there was the worry that our family had about this situation.
I had to say thank you to you. In the presence of the huge crisis facing the world now, it was a very unusual experience to discover such great deeds from people. So thank you very much, Lemonade Fund! Thank you also to our social worker, S. You have proven that there are good people all along the way.
To Donate to the Lemonade Fund: https://lemonadefund.org/to-donate/
A Corona Miracle: Getting Cancer Patients to Their Treatments During Corona
Here is the sunshine that was borne out of the darkness of this pandemic. Feel good, feel proud. What can happen when we all care for each other.
Based on an actual story.
It’s early February, 2020 and A., a 48 years old divorced mother of two, has been diagnosed with a fast-growing cancer. Her doctor informs her that she needs to start weekly treatments, immediately. She lives in the north, about an hour from Haifa, but there’s a direct bus she can take. Stories about the novel Covid 19 virus begin to appear on the evening news, but she’s distracted by her own worries.
To read more:
FREE TAXI RIDES FOR CANCER PATIENTS DURING CORONA – STORIES
-A mother needed to visit her young son, immunocompromised and in isolation in a hospital leukemia ward. We are making it possible for this mother to see her son often even during Corona.
-Lung cancer patient needed transport from Kiryat Gat to Be’er Sheva to start radiation therapy. Done!
-Brought a woman from Shlomi (very far north,) to Rambam in Haifa today for breast cancer treatment. Daughter was overwhelmed with gratitude. Mother would have had no other way to get to the hospital without this.
-A patient from Eilat with pancreatic cancer is being treated in Be’er Sheva. He needed to go to the hospital once in April in order to get special pills that he can take instead of having repeated chemotherapy infusions. No flights. His social worker reached out to the Israel Lemonade Fund asking if it was even possible to arrange a taxi from Eilat to Be’er Sheva. (Thanks to GETT for offering more than fair taxi fees,) we offered to help this man reach the hospital for his April appointment.
-A Bedouin woman needed breast cancer treatment. Impossible feat without public transportation. GETT found a way to get her from her village and we got her to her treatments.
-From a social worker: “The service is critical especially for those coming to Ein Karen from outside central Jerusalem. Wish it would continue forever…”
Stories of cancer patients who got to the hospital thanks to the Israel Lemonade Fund/Inbar and Marius Nacht Foundation/Gett Taxi partnership…..THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Israel Lemonade Fund is still helping needy patients with one time grants for non-medical expenses. Your donations are needed more than ever at this time. Thank you.
Link to apply for free taxi rides for cancer patients: https://lemonadefund.org/%d7%a7%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%95%d7%a0%d7%94-taxi-2/
ANNOUNCING FREE TAXI RIDES TO CHEMO/RADIATION TREATMENTS DURING THE CORONA OUTBREAK, FOR NEEDY CANCER PATIENTS…
Thanks to the support of the Inbar and Marius Nacht Family Foundation, in partnership with GETT Taxi, the Israel Lemonade Fund EMERGENCY TAXI RIDES FOR CANCER PATIENTS APPEAL, is now able to expand to provide free taxi rides TO chemo/radiation treatments for needy cancer patients with ANY kind of cancer! (Not limited to breast cancer.)
On March 8, as public transportation was becoming restrictive, the Israel Lemonade Fund launched a TAXI appeal for needy breast cancer patients who had no way to get to their treatments. Thanks to the many of you who donated, we have been subsidizing taxi rides for patients since then.
When life give you lemons, make lemonade. That has been the motto of The Lemonade Fund which has provided emergency financial assistance to breast cancer patients in Israel since 2011. Life has given all us of lemons right now, but we can all keep on making lemonade. If you or someone you love needs taxi rides to cancer treatments, forward the application form to your hospital social worker so that he/she can submit an application for you. (Applications must come from hospital social workers.)
Link to Application Form:
https://lemonadefund.org/%d7%a7%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%95%d7%a0%d7%94-taxi-
To make a donation to the Israel Lemonade Fund: https://lemonadefund.org/to-donate/
TAXI RIDES FOR CANCER PATIENTS – 2 PROFILES -WEEK 2
- 44 year old, married, 3 children, Stage 4, second diagnosis. Financial crisis in family. Immunocompromised but NO money for private taxi rides until the Lemonade Fund stepped in.
Kiryat Gat to Be’er Sheva for chemo and bio treatment.
Average taxi fare = NIS 230 ($65)
Awarded special TAXI grant of NIS 920 ($255) – 4 TAXI RIDES
- 57 year old married mother of one. Cashier, used up sick days, husband missing his shifts in factory to care for wife. Frantic about how to get to the hospital during Corona outbreak, until the Lemonade Fund helped.
Karmiel to Haifa for chemo/rads.
Average taxi fare from Carmiel to Haifa = NIS 180 ($50).
Awarded special TAXI grant of NIS 900 ($250) – 5 TAXI RIDES
The Lemonade Fund launched an urgent appeal on March 8, to help patients take private taxis, so that they will not miss their treatments during this difficult time. (For the average breast cancer patient: Radiation – 25 sessions. Chemotherapy – 12-24 sessions.) Cancer patients are being urged to avoid public transportation.
Average Israeli intra-city taxi fee: NIS 50 ($15)
Common Israeli inter-city taxi fee: NIS 180 ($50)
Please donate taxi rides, (one or more,) or any amount that you can. THANK YOU!
Cancer patients are being advised NOT to take public transportation during the Corona outbreak. Most needy Lemonade Fund applicants cannot afford taxis. (Health insurance only reimburses for public transportation or a taxi in one direction.)
We will continue to send money directly to patients in need as long as this emergency campaign is funded. Thank you to those who have already donated. (Tax deductible in Israel, US and other countries.)
UPDATE – TAXI RIDES FOR CANCER PATIENTS DURING CORONA OUTBREAK
(Updated, March 22, 2020) First five approved patients have already gotten the following TRANSPORTATION GRANTS with nine more on the way:
48 year old divorced mother of two, supermarket cashier, used up sick pay.
- Karmiel to Haifa for chemo.
- Average taxi fare from Carmiel to Haifa = NIS 180 ($50).
- Awarded special grant of NIS 900 ($250) – 5 taxi rides.
58 year old widowed mother of two, can’t work due to illness.
- Ofakim to Beer Sheva for chemo.
- Average taxi from Ofakim to Beer Sheva = NIS 100 ($28).
- Awarded special grant of NIS 900 ($250) – 9 taxi rides.
35 year old single mother of toddler, Stage 4.
- Needs city taxi rides in Nahariya to hospital for chemo.
- Average taxi fare = NIS 50 ($15)
- Awarded special grant of NIS 400 ($110) – 8 taxi rides.
67 year old divorced mother of two, pensionnaire.
- Needs city rides from Jaffa to Tel Aviv hospital for radiation.
- Average taxi fare = NIS 50 ($15)
- Awarded special grant of NIS 400 ($110) – 8 taxi rides.
44 year old single mother of 2 young children. Psych issues, abuse, PTSD. Bankrupt.
- Pardes Hana to Haifa for chemo and radiation.
- Average taxi fare = unknown, various routes.
- Awarded special grant of NIS 600 ($166) towards private taxi rides.
(March 22) Next set of grants slated to be awarded:
59 year old divorced mother of 2. Second diagnosis, deeply in debt.
- Bat Yam to Tel Aviv for last rounds of chemo.
- Average taxi fare = NIS 70 ($20)
- Awarded special grant of NIS 350 ($100) towards private taxi rides.
47 year old married mother of 8 (toddlers to young adult) Stage 4.
- Ramat Bet Shemesh to Jerusalem for chemo and bio treatments.
- Average taxi fare = NIS 220 ($60)
- Awarded special grant of NIS 880 ($245)
27 year old married mother of 2 young children, no family support, husband’s business recently closed. No income.
- Outskirts of Jerusalem to Jerusalem hospital for chemo.
- Average taxi fare = NIS 70 ($20)
- Awarded special grant of NIS 350 ($100) – toward private taxi rides.
41 year old, separated, 6 children. Worked in tourism sector, out of work. Father died, helping mother.
- Inner city Jerusalem to Jerusalem hospital for chemo.
- Average taxi fare = NIS 50 ($15)
- Awarded special grant of NIS 400 ($110) – 8 taxi rides.
44 year old, married, 3 children, Stage 4, second diagnosis. Financial crisis in family.
- Kiryat Gat to Be’er Sheva for chemo and bio treatment.
- Average taxi fare = NIS 230 ($65)
- Awarded special grant of NIS 920 ($255) – 4 taxi rides.
68 year old, widow, living alone on small pension. Stage 4, other health issues.
- Inner city Jerusalem to Jerusalem hospital for chemo.
- Average taxi fare = NIS 50 ($15)
- Awarded special grant of NIS 400 ($110) – 8 taxi rides.
49 year old, married, 4 children, Stage 4, second diagnosis, disabled son. Family member used to drive her, can’t now due to possible Corona infection.
- Needs city taxi rides in Nahariya to hospital for chemo.
- Average taxi fare = NIS 50 ($15)
- Awarded special grant of NIS 400 ($110) – 8 taxi rides.
57 year old married mother of one. Cashier, used up sick days, husband missing his shifts in factory to care for wife.
- Karmiel to Haifa for chemo/rads.
- Average taxi fare from Carmiel to Haifa = NIS 180 ($50).
- Awarded special grant of NIS 900 ($250) – 5 taxi rides.
Request for additional funds for A. below, granted:
44 year old single mother of 2 young children. Psych issues, abuse, PTSD. Bankrupt. (Additional NIS 300 added. March 22, to NIS 600 sent previously.)
Immunocompromised patients are being advised NOT to take public transportation during the Corona outbreak. Most needy Lemonade Fund applicants cannot afford taxis. (Health insurance only reimburses for public transportation or a taxi in one direction.)
We will continue to send money directly to patients in need as long as this emergency campaign is funded. Thank you to those who have already donated. (Tax deductible in Israel, US and other countries.)
URGENT APPEAL FOR CANCER PATIENTS DURING CORONA OUTBREAK
IMMEDIATE APPEAL FROM THE ISRAEL LEMONADE FUND:
The Coronavirus has created new and potentially expensive challenges for patients travelling to their chemotherapy/radiation treatments. They are immunocompromised, and they are being warned not to take public buses and trains.
“The early data from China, and reports from the ground in Italy and other sites of local transmission is that our cancer patients are going to be at increased risk,” said Dr. Steve Pergam, a clinical and infectious disease researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in Seattle, Washington.
Pergam said people currently in treatment, if at all possible, should avoid taking public buses or trains. But he also acknowledged not every patient can afford private car services or taxis. “Talk to your care team about what options exist to support you getting there without taking public transportation,” Pergam said.
Most indigent Israeli breast cancer patients can at most, only afford public transportation; many do not own cars. Our social workers at Breast Centers are reporting high levels of anxiety in their patients regarding this issue.
We are launching an urgent appeal to help patients take taxis, so that they will not miss their treatments during this difficult time. (For the average breast cancer patient: Radiation – 25 sessions. Chemotherapy – 12-24 sessions.)
Average Israeli intra-city taxi fee: NIS 50 ($15)
Common Israeli inter-city taxi fee: NIS 180 ($50)
Please donate taxi rides, (one or more,) or any amount that you can. Monies donated that are earmarked, ‘TRANSPORT’ will go specifically for this request. (Any leftover funds from this appeal will go towards regular transportation grants during, hopefully, better times.)
Tax deductible in US, Israel, Canada, UK and Australia.
Profiles in Courage – February 2020 – A Hard But Good Day at the Lemonade Fund
A good day at the Lemonade Fund is when you read the worst stories…so sad they make you weep…and then you jump in and help. What’s better than that?
R., is a 45 year old divorced mother of 3 children, ages 23, 13 and 10, diagnosed recently with Stage 4 breast cancer, metastasized to her liver. She’s waiting for special services to kick in but she has no savings and is supporting her family on a small income that is way beneath the poverty line. One of her children has special needs and R. is stressed all around, from illness, financial woes and worry. The Lemonade Fund awarded R. a generous grant so that she can breathe a bit easier during this difficult time, until more help arrives.
U. is 27, married with a 5 and a 7 year old. Her husband used to own a restaurant but after it failed, they declared bankruptcy. The family was just climbing out of debt when U. was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is now starting rigorous chemotherapy which will be followed by surgery. Her husband is finding work wherever he can and her mother cannot help U. because she herself has cancer. U.’s social worker applied to the Lemonade Fund for a grant to help pay for extra household and childcare help so that U. can focus on her treatment and recovery.
The Lemonade Fund, Israel’s only Breast Cancer Emergency Relief Fund.
TO DONATE: https://lemonadefund.org/to-donate/
Profiles in Courage – January 2020
G., 62, divorced, was a proudly self-supporting senior citizen until she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had worked as a bookkeeper and then transitioned to eldercare. Lymphedema, a side effect of surgery to remove malignant lymph glands, has caused limited mobility in her right arm and she can no longer do her job. She has become depressed due to her loss of independence and descent into poverty. A Lemonade Fund grant will tide her over until she gets National Insurance payments and can get back on her feet.
M. is a 41 year old married mother of 6, ranging in age from 7-16. Her husband worked in a supermarket until he got kidney disease; he is now getting dialysis and is disabled. M. was diagnosed with a second round of breast cancer in 2019 and the family (including 2 children with emotional problems,) is in financial crisis. The Lemonade Fund awarded M. a generous grant which included a supplemental food voucher from Myisrael (designated for Lemonade Fund grant recipients with families with young children.)
The Lemonade Fund – Israel’s only Breast Cancer Emergency Relief Fund, giving critical financial assistance during treatment so patients can focus on recovery.
To Donate: (Tax deductible in US, UK, Australia and Israel)
