I just got this today. I know some of you may know and have ridden with Dave (dfacerdm). He's been a member here since early August 2008. I believe thats around the time we were introduced to each other by another DT member.
Dave has been fighting cancer for awhile and it seems the battle is getting tough. Please take a moment and read through this and find it in your heart to help out a friend, a great guy.
Thanks
Pete


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Thursday, February 17, 2011

Help Keep Dave Melrose Alive!

Dave Melrose has cancer—and not the kind that’s easy to treat. But anyone who knows Dave knows that he’s not one to give up in the face of adversity. He’s overcome challenges before and helped countless people along the way. Let’s come together now to help him beat the biggest challenge yet. This one’s about life and death. We can help him win.

How You Can Help

1. Please donate using the PayPal Donate Button below or go to: http://www.KeepDaveAlive.org. Any donations will go to help Dave pay for specialized Gene Targeted Therapy treatment.

2. Please spread the word by forwarding this email to anyone you think might be able to help.


About Dave

Friends know that Dave has always loved a good, cynical joke and an adrenaline rush, but he smiles the biggest while telling stories about teaching chess to kids. Break-neck mountain bike habit notwithstanding, Dave has made himself quite the productive member of society. He has been a mentor, a role model, and a friend not only to the countless men and women whom he has helped in the struggle to reclaim their lives, but also to the 10,000+ students he has inspired as Founder and Director of San Diego Chess Academy.


If Dave has one inherent gift it is the ability to see past limitations and find the opportunities—whether in life or in bureaucratic systems. Of course he’s approaching his cancer treatment in the same way. He was diagnosed with Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) cancer two years ago and has since undergone two surgeries. He also took part in a clinical trial to no avail and, at this point, has been told that further surgery is not an option. Just when he was nearing the point of hopelessness, however, Dave learned of a non-traditional treatment that attacks the cancer cells at the genetic level. Astoundingly, this method has been 100 percent effective in curing his exact type of cancer.

Dave will be relocating temporarily to Houston so that he can undergo this groundbreaking treatment. The bad news is that his medical insurance will only cover half of the expenses. That means that Dave — and everyone who loves him—must come up with a staggering $150,000 (we've already raised $4339.15 as of the time this is being sent) to ensure that he receives the cutting-edge therapy that we all hope will keep him alive.

http://www.KeepDaveAlive.org
Donate & Spread The Word

They don’t make a Dave Melrose every day, so let’s take good care of the one we have and raise the funds he needs to fight for his life. Even if you can’t afford to donate yourself, please help spread the word as far and wide as possible. Dave has shown that one person can make a huge difference. Now we each have that chance, too.

Thank you,
The Keep Dave Alive Team
http://www.KeepDaveAlive.org

Done!

I got to ride with Dave a couple times this past year. Get better Dave!

Was he at Elfin Forest with us when I led the group ride? On the Ellsworth Moment?

I remember riding with him at La Costa, not realizing that he had cancer. He was still a very good rider. I will donate next week when I get some cash.

Healing vibes to him!

_________________
~I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
~Nothing from nothing is nothing.
~I'm allowed to be a pussy because I have one!

Dave is an excellent mountainbiker! Here's a few pics when we rode La Costa...

_________________


We're not saints, we're not villains. We all make choices and decisions every day that shape our destiny - and in a small way, the world's.

- @HiddenCash

Thanks for posting this Pete, was wondering about Dave.

_________________
"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

Yes, that was him in the jailstripe jersey if memory serves correctly. A really good mountainbiker and good guy.

_________________
"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

Done. I've met him a couple times, he's a good guy. Healing vibes heading his way...

Done. I rode with Dave on that big Elfin ride a few months ago. I was impressed with his text-book "attack" position on the downhills - the same you can see in RHS's first pic above. I guess he will use that same attack position attitude to make it through this one.

Done. Customized gene therapy is a cool idea and does hold a lot of promise. I worked on a Phase 2/3 melanoma cancer gene therapy "vaccine" for 10 years here in SD.

Done. Most amazing thing is how high a level Dave rides at despite his condition. That moxie makes me think he'll pull no problem through if all goes as planned.

_________________
"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

Done.

Just saw this on another site for those who can make it.