Rick Bega

YOU CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Dear Family and Friends,
Breathing is something so fundamental; most of us take it for granted. I know I sure did. But when your lungs do not provide the air you need, your body becomes paralyzed and you can’t move. I’ve been slowly losing lung capacity since I was diagnosed with COPD. I worked for over 30 years in insulation, until my illness prevented me from being able to continue. Then, last year, it became worse. Even with oxygen, I couldn’t get dressed or walk from one room to another without stopping. After a breathing test, x-rays, and a cat scan of my lungs, the results showed that the disease had progressed into end-stage COPD, and that a lung transplant is going to be necessary.

This brings me to the purpose of my letter; a transplant is a very expensive, but life-saving procedure. Financing the procedure is a monumental task, one I cannot meet without the support of family, friends, and community. There are so many pre- and post-transplant costs that are not covered by insurance alone. As a result, my financial coordinator from the University of Virginia recommended fundraising.

To assist with these out of pocket expenses a fundraising campaign has been established in my honor with HelpHOPELive, a non-profit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the South-Atlantic Lung Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for the transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a contribution.

For credit card contributions, please click the Donate Now button.

Your financial gifts will be greatly appreciated, and will help me make it through this difficult time.

With sincere gratitude,

Rick Bega
804-469-6088
[email protected]