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I'm Bob Marckini,
founder of the Brotherhood of the Balloon.
I'm sending you this video message today, as a way of connecting with you
about our proton treatment experience, yours and mine,
and the wonderful memories we've had since our treatment ended.
And more importantly it's a plea for you to give thanks,
to give back,
and to help others.
When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer
in 2000,
I thought my life had ended.
I remember the thoughts that went through my mind.
Is this a death sentence?
Will I be able to walk my daughter down the aisle at her upcoming wedding?
Will the treatment that I choose
leave me with debilitating side effects, like
impotence and will I have to wear diapers.
I'm sure they're you all and very similar thoughts
when you were diagnosed with prostate cancer yourselves.
Now as I look back
over the past ten years
I've had some wonderful wonderful memories
of my entire life
and it's so surprising how many of those memories have occurred since my proton treatment
ten years ago.
Fortunately for the majority of us
proton treatment not only saved our lives but helped maintain the quality of our lives.
I'm Deb Hickey, Bob Marckini's daughter and helper.
As you probably agree prostate cancer does not just affect
one person, it didn't just affect my dad,
it affected our entire family.
I asked my dad to be part of this video so that I could put another face
to the prostate cancer diagnosis and remind you of the additional lives affected.
Throughout my life
my dad has been my everything. My teacher,
my wise and trusted adviser, my friend, and without sounding too schmaltzy, my hero.
From as far back as I can remember I used to ride around on his feet as a toddler
and I used to call him at midnight in hysterics over my statistics homework in college.
And now as my husband and I embark on our new journey,
we're adopting a baby,
my dad has always been there to support me.
It's because of proton treatment that I have my dad today in great health and high spirits.
I still have the same Dad that calls me every year on my birthday and sings a terrible rendition
of happy birthday with his Clavinova.
And you know it's my favorite gift.
Most importantly
my dad is still here to help the thousands of men and their families with his work
through the Brotherhood of the Balloon.
I started the Brotherhood of the Balloon
to stay connected with fellow patients,
as a way of promoting proton therapy,
and also
as a way of giving something back.
Proton treatment has allowed me and countless others
to maintain the quality of our lives, to lead happy, healthy lives
and to do so
without debilitating side effects.
it's also allow me to pursue my dreams, my hopes and my goals.
And to continue to try to be
a loving husband, a caring father,
and soon a grandfather to
our future grandchild.
As you know,
proton treatment
could not have been made possible without the pioneering efforts
and work
of Doctor James Slater.
Because of his efforts
tens of thousands of patients have been treated,
lives have been saved,
families have been kept whole,
and the quality of many lives has been preserved.
This is the twentieth anniversary of the
first hospital-based proton treatment center.
It is a landmark event.
It is a defining moment in history
and it's also an opportunity for us to express our thanks and appreciation
for the man that made it all happen.
I believe that we
five thousand members
of the Brotherhood of the Balloon,
have a responsibility to ensure
the continued viability of proton beam radiation therapy
to treat prostate cancer and many other diseases.
I also think we have a responsibility to help
Doctor James Slater and Doctor Jerry Slater
expand basic
and clinical research.
Especially with regard to treating cancers in children.
where conventional therapies leave them with
such debilitating side effects.
And there is new hope for treating aggressive cancers,
such as breast cancer and liver cancers
and even pancreatic cancer.
This can only be done through continued research to advance
proton therapy, to document its efficacy,
and to reduce the cost of treatment.
Our goal
is to present a check to Doctor James Slater at the twentieth anniversary celebration
for five hundred thousand dollars for proton therapy research.
To date
we've raised about half of that, a little more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars
and we only have three weeks left.
Although most of the members of our group were treated at Loma Linda University Medical Center,
Several hundred of our members were treated at some of the other six centers
here in the United States.
None of those centers could have been built
if it weren't for the
pioneering efforts of Doctor James Slater.
Therefore, I'm hoping for one hundred percent participation
by our members
all members of our group, from all proton treatment centers.
I hope you will seriously consider making a gift
for this cause.
Anything you can give would be appreciated.
And those who can give more
should be aware of the fact that we have matching gifts.
Some of our members have offered to match gifts
of a thousand dollars or twenty-five hundred dollars.
So if you can give that amount, it will be effectively doubled.
The Brotherhood of the Balloon is a special group of men and their families.
We have the ability to combine our resources,
to combine our voices
and to make a difference.
Together we can touch
and impact the lives of thousands of people
by paying it forward,
by giving it back for all that we've received.
Please join me in making a gift now
to honor
Doctor James Slater
on October twenty fourth when we celebrate the twentieth anniversary
of the first hospital-based proton treatment center.
Thank you very much.