Best Wishes for Bill Loforte and His Family

[XLFD]

LUDINGTON, MI – When Bill Loforte was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor this summer, his daughters decided to honor his fight by supporting research they hope will lead to a cure for all cancers.

Bill Loforte of Ludington is battling brain cancer. His daughters decided to honor his fight by raising money for cancer.The Cure Starts Now Michigan chapter website

Amy Loforte of Jackson and Michelle Loforte of Ludington started a Michigan chapter of The Cure Starts Now, an organization that raises money for research into pediatric brain cancer. Some doctors believe learning how to cure children’s brain tumors will reveal the key to treating all forms of cancer, Amy Loforte said.

“We can’t help fight his cancer, but if we can help cure pediatric brain cancer that’s the next best thing,” she said.

Bill Loforte began experiencing some problems with memory and speech earlier this year, Amy Loforte said. A brain scan revealed a large tumor that had to be surgically removed, she said.

Bill Loforte underwent radiation therapy and is still getting chemotherapy treatments.

“It covered the majority of the left side of his brain,” she said.

Although information was available online about Bill Loforte’s type of cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, most people aren’t familiar with brain cancers and less funding goes toward fighting them than some less-deadly cancers, Amy Loforte said.

“If you think about breast cancer and leukemia, they have events all year and raise a lot of money, but brain cancer is one of the most underfunded cancers,” she said.

The new chapter’s first fundraiser will be a silent auction held from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 14 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 209 N. Rowe St. in Ludington. The goal is to raise $5,000 over the next year, Amy Loforte said, with most of that money going directly to cancer research.

Most people with glioblastoma multiforme die within 15 months of their diagnosis, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Bill Loforte is determined to fight the disease, Amy Loforte said.

“He’s pretty optimistic about it,” she said.

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2012/10/sisters_in_lud...

I've worked with Bill Loforte a couple of times, he's a blue collar man with a lot of empathy for his fellow man.  He served with dignity on the Ludington Planning Commission until the end of 2008, then worked on the Zoning Board of Appeals until the end of 2011.  He's also gotten up in front of the City council as a citizen a couple of times and didn't mince his words. 

He's a great citizen of the City of Ludington; let's wish him the best and success with this fundraising effort that his family is undertaking on his behalf and a cure for all the other people afflicted with brain cancer.

[Willy]

A friend of mine had the same thing about 10 years ago. It is a very nasty type of cancer and since the brain controls all of your bodily functions there is little chance most of those functions will not be affected. From motor skills to vision to feeling, it all begins to fail. Sad story.

[XLFD]

There's probably no worse place for cancer to develop than the brain.  I learned from the staff at WMOM that the two daughters of Bill Loforte are going to be featured on the Morning Madhouse on Wednesday the 14th.  Check that out to see how you might be able to help.