Cancer survivor pays it forward by fundraising for wedding of couple both battling cancer

A business owner is helping fund the wedding of a couple undergoing treatment for cancer (Credit: Facebook)
A business owner is helping fund the wedding of a couple undergoing treatment for cancer (Credit: Facebook)

An Illinois entrepreneur and cancer survivor has been warming hearts since announcing that she plans to lift some of the “physical, emotional and financial trauma” of cancer by throwing a wedding for a couple undergoing treatment.

Lori Eickhoff, who owns a business called London Avenue Designs in Rockford, Ill., describes in a Facebook post how she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, a malignancy of lining of the uterus or womb. For treatment, she had a full hysterectomy, which removed the contained cancer. But upon finding out that a coworker and bride-to-be, Laurel, had to postpone her May wedding after discovering she had the same kind of cancer, as well as ovarian cancer, Eickhoff wanted to help.

Further, she explained in her post, Laurel’s fiancee Dan, who had previously been in reemission, was also just re-diagnosed with cancer.

Eickhoff — who was not immediately reachable by Yahoo Lifestyle — wrote that she had a moment during her own recovery when she was angry about what was happening, but that she now has the chance to do something positive by supporting the couple through “the most difficult part of their lives.”

“I had this moment in the midst of recovery where I got mad, mad that this all was happening and mad that I couldn’t do anything to change or fix what was going on for myself or for anyone else at that point,” her post reads.“Then I remembered that I am one of the lucky ones, I am recovering well, and truly believe that even though life isn’t perfect we still have every chance to DO GOOD in the midst of any situation.”

Eickhoff’s Facebook post details her plans to fund the wedding — now scheduled to take place in September — through a mix of personal donations and fundraising. While her business “is gifting the full floral order for the wedding,” and her husband, Matt, is “doing their wedding video at no cost,” she is also selling T-shirts, from which all proceeds will “go toward helping cover the cost of Laurel and Dan’s wedding so their entire family can celebrate them all together.”

The shirts went on sale Wednesday, and will continue to be sold for fundraising till September.

Her post immediately garnered support with people promising to pick up T-shirts (not available online) and applauding her selfless decision.

“Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Cancer changes a person. You look at things different now. God isn’t finished with you yet. I know from experience myself. I will be praying for you, Laurel, and Dan. I will buy some shirts to support them,” one person wrote.

Another added, “Oh Lori, what a journey. How wonderful to pay it forward in this way. You can empathize deeply with them and your gift will mean so much. So grateful you are in remission and smiling bright!”

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source: yahoo.com