In Memory of Neil.

Yesterday was a good day for my soul.

It reminded me of the true power and humbleness of people.

Let me introduce you to a young man named Neil. Neil is 26 years old. He is a high school graduate with a Journey Mans ticket and has worked with the same company from the day he graduated high school. He is a practical joker. He is kind, sincere, honest, and trust worthy. Neil is someone I am proud to call a friend.

When Neil was 21 years old he was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer. He went through the whole process of having it removed, biopsies performed, radiation, & chemotherapy. His doctors were hopeful that they had “got it all.”

When Neil turned 24 he was re-diagnosed with Cancer, except it was now in the Lymph nodes. It attacked his entire body and left him debilitated and extremely weak. He still remained the positive, laughing person we all knew, but we could all see the pain he was in.

Neil tried all kinds of procedures, tests, medicine…you name it, he did it. He traveled the world trying to find a drug that would enable his life to be lengthened. He NEVER gave up. His latest trip was to Mexico and unfortunately while there he became so medically ill that he had to be flown back to Canada by an equivalent of an S.T.A.R.S medical plane. The plane ride alone cost $30,000, and that doesn’t include the price of the medical team, the equipment, or anything else he needed to get home alive.

When the guys he works with heard about his latest bought with cancer, and how much debt he was accumulating in trying to prolong his life, the guys decided to put on an event for Neil. This event would be a silent auction. All proceeds from this event would be going to Neil to help cover his medical and palliative care costs.

Neil was really excited about this event. He has touched so many people, and so many people truly respected him and enjoyed him that major corporation’s wallets just FLUNG open and almost $20,000 dollars worth of stuff and money was donated to the event and to Neil’s accumulating Debt.

One of Neil’s clients from work paid the STARS plane flight home. They didn’t even blink when they were given the total. They just wrote a check.

Neil passed away on Thursday, February 8^th. The Event was last night. There were over 500 people at this auction/dinner/memorial. Tickets were $20 to get in + your alcohol cost + anything you bid on at the auction cost.

Last night the power of human kindness rose over $200,000 for Neil and his family. The bar that the event was hosted at made an announcement that ALL profits earned that evening would be donated to the family as well.

Last night I sat back and watched people pull together for a common goal of making someone else’s life easier. I watched people from all walks of life bond together in stories of remembrance.

I also had a little surprise last night.

Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE the Tour de France, and I basically worship Lance Armstrong. Well, last night at the event, they also had LIVE auction items. Imagine my surprise when the spokesperson comes over the microphone and says “and now for a treat, our live auction will start in 1 minute and our first item will be a Lance Armstrong Tour de France 7 time winner beautifully framed and AUTOGRAPHED Live Strong portrait”

OMFG!!!! I swear to gawd my hand was possessed. My lance just sat beside me going “awww shit” *lol*

It ended up coming down to me and my Lance’s work Vice President (who’s name is Vance…ironically *lol*) and the bidding was fast and furious. At first there was about 10 people who wanted the print, and as the bidding went on, it was finally just the 2 of us ~Vance and myself ~ standing alone in a room full of 500+ people throwing our hands up as soon as the other person topped our last bid. The auctioneer didn’t have a clue what to do. He could barely keep up. The crowd was cheering and clapping. I WASN’T GOING HOME WITHOUT THAT PORTRAIT!!!! *lol*

Finally I was able to stare Vance down and ended up winning it!! YAY ME!!! The winning bid was $500, I’ve seen the same portrait in art studio’s (unsigned) being sold for roughly $350, and the money made from the auction was going to a great cause so I was ecstatic with my win. I was even magnanimous and offered to let Vance come over and admire it once it was hung on my wall *grinz*

Lance won his bid in the silent auction as well. He bid on a 3 pack of hockey tickets for games in March and April, so he was also a really happy camper.

All in all, it was a $900+ night for us. WAY more than we planned on spending, but knowing that we are helping Neil and his family; it somehow just really doesn’t matter.

Though Neil couldn’t be with us in person last night, I know he was there in spirit. He would’ve been so proud at the turnout and the amazing generosity of the people that love him.

I am humbled and awed to be surrounded by so many people that I can call friends who have true heart and true compassion.

Yesterday was good for my soul.