“We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.” - Mother Teresa

Along with The Silver Lining Cancer Fund, another wonderful organization dear to our hearts is The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This year, both of Jessica's sisters are taking part in their local "Light The Night" fundraising event to help raise awareness and funds for the LLS.

Stefanie's husband Adam is on the LLS's executive committee for their Walk which will be held at the Fred Beekman Park on OSU's campus in Columbus on Saturday, October 15th. This is their first year participating on a team, although last year they volunteered by working at the Walk. I am humbled to have the opportunity to be a part of their team along with the girls' Aunt Karin and cousin Lori. To find out more, click on: http://pages.lightthenight.org/coh/CntlOhio11/FrostBrownToddLLC

Jessica's older sister Nicole has organized a team near her home in Tamarac, Florida. This too is her first team event and it will be held on Saturday, November 12th in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. Unfortunately, I will not be able to personally participate but her Walk can be accessed by clicking on: http://pages.lightthenight.org/sfl/Huizenga11/NZifchak

I know that many of you have already donated and as a family we are all grateful, not only for your generosity, but for continuing to keep Jessica's spirit alive. And for anyone who would like more information or may wish to contribute, please donate through either link above or at a Walk that may be held near you!

Again, from all of us, thank you and God Bless you.

...yet another update!!

(by Chris) Kudos to the BEST group of women that you'll ever find in one place!!! Sandi B. of Sandi's Mane Attraction in Girard has not only been there for our family since day one of Jess Journey (and before), but she volunteered to have her shop be an advertised location to sell our candy bars! Sandi, along with Ruth, Dorothy, JoAnn, Nancy and Paulette have sold many of our tasty treats to their very generous clientele who have purchased and also donated to the fund. (Special thanks to Ellen M. and her friends at Pleasant Valley Church) And if that weren't enough, Dorothy and her husband Larry, who run Kuzman's Bar in town, gave Sandi, Ruth and JoAnn permission to hold a 50/50 raffle there last night which raised $350.00!!! The patrons were very generous and this will allow an additional 14 people to get tested at no charge!!! Thank you ladies, from the very depths of our hearts!!

Fundraising Update

(by Chris) "Thank you" to all of our family and friends who have been so graciously taking the time to help sell our delicious candy bars! We are humbly amazed to see just how far this has gone! So many of you have not only been selling them yourselves, but have taken on the additional task of recruiting others to help! I would also like to mention that we've had some monetary donations to Jessica's fund. Thank you all for your generosity, with a special "thank you" to Karen C. You've given so much of yourself over these last few years and we greatly appreciate everything! Lastly, on this "sweet" note, a special loving thanks to the best sister ever, Karin T. She is the one responsible for us gaining "chocolate weight". She initiated the idea and has been seeing it through by ordering, sorting, selling and getting it where it needs to be! As always....where would I be without you???? You really are the best!!

Candy Bar Sale

(Newpaper Article release) Jessica Zifchak, a 2003 graduate of Girard High School, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in August of 2005. She has since then endured many rounds of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a tandem stem-cell transplant. She now needs a donor bone-marrow transplant since a suitable donor has not been identified within her family or with the National Registry. Her family and friends will be hosting a Bone Marrow Donor Drive in January, 2009 with the hopes that a donor will be found. There is a $25 fee for each person tested and additional costs for further testing once a probable match is found. This is not covered by insurance. A candy bar sale has been started to help defray these costs. Anthony-Thomas chocolates are available in Girard at: The Girard Chiropractic Center, 512 North State Street, Steve's Auto Body, 717 South State Street and Sandi's Mane Attraction, 28 East Liberty Street. They are also available in Liberty at John’s Barber Shop, 304 ½ Churchill Road. If you or your organization would like more information on becoming a donor or for other ways to help, please leave a message at 330-545-8818 or email: jessandchriszifchak@yahoo.com.