Community Rallying for Mom of Three with Breast Cancer

Emily Progin, PR and Communications Coordinator

Release: Immediate

COMMUNITY RALLYING FOR MOM OF THREE WITH BREAST CANCER

Black Friday Fundraising and More Will Help Erin Merkley Fund Critical Cancer Care

VERNAL, Utah—On Black Friday and throughout this season of giving, the Vernal community is coming together to provide help and hope to a local mom of three young children living with a life-threatening breast cancer diagnosis. In partnership with the nonprofit Help Hope Live, fundraising efforts will help 42-year-old Erin Merkley to fund her breast cancer treatment.

Pizza Fundraiser Nov 25-26

Black Friday (Nov 25) and Small Business Saturday (Nov 26)
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
20% of your purchase from Delicatto Pizza will benefit Help Hope Live in Erin Merkley’s honor if you mention her name at the time of purchase
1050 South 75 E, Orem, Utah, 84097 (next to University Mall)
Italian and Brazilian fare with pizza, pasta, soup, salad, sandwiches, desserts and gelato, and Italian sodas
Details and flyer: https://events.helphopelive.org/event/5728/signup/
Contact Delicatto: 801-226-4757

About Erin and Online Donations

Make a donation at any time online at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/20896/

Erin got the call that no one wants to receive on August 8, 2022 while sitting in the car line to pick her daughter up from school. She was diagnosed with potentially highly aggressive stage 2B breast cancer.

Erin and her husband, Michael, are the parents of three young children: 9-year-old Emily, 4-year-old Marjesa, and 1-year-old James.

As family friend Jill Armijo explained, “Instead of thinking, Why Me? Erin wonders, Why Not Me? What does the Lord want me to learn, and how can I help other people through my journey?”

After careful consideration, Erin opted to pursue cancer treatment options that she and her team of support believe will give her the best possible chance of keeping her body and mind as healthy as possible. Her insurance has denied her request for assistance with the cost of these treatment options, which are pain-free and less invasive than traditional treatment.

As a result, Erin is facing a significant out-of-pocket burden to bring breast cancer treatment within reach. That’s why loved ones turned to the national medical fundraising nonprofit Help Hope Live to start a campaign at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/20896/

“As a health care provider, I’ve seen hundreds of people go through cancer,” explained friend Jill Armijo. “The hardest thing for me to see children experience it, too, and the last thing a mother wants to do is leave this life when her kids are little.” Fundraising will play a critical role in enabling Erin to be the parent she wants to be during this immensely challenging journey.

Unlike a GoFundMe campaign, donations to Help Hope Live in Erin’s honor are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, and all funds raised will be managed by the nonprofit to cover verified medical and related expenses. Funds raised won’t jeopardize her eligibility for state-based benefits. Help Hope Live verifies medical and financial need for every patient.

Help Hope Live is a national nonprofit that specializes in engaging communities in secure, tax-deductible fundraising campaigns for people who need a transplant or are affected by a catastrophic injury or illness. Since 1983, campaigns organized by Help Hope Live have raised over $165 million to pay patient expenses. ###

Download Press Release

Written by Emily Progin