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Neal
06-29-2001, 04:30 PM
NEED A LITTLE HELP HERE...

There is a fine young man of 11 years old in our fraternity of sportsmen who could use a little boost right now. His name is Mark and he has been tagging along with mom & dad in the hunting woods since he was four. This past fall, his dad took him on his first big game hunt and he was able to take a nice wild boar with a 30-30 rifle. He's hooked on hunting for life. He's a great kid who I have known for many years who deserves a whole lot better hand than he was dealt. Mark has a very rare immune deficiency that has made many aspects of his life quite difficult. The following is a simple request letter from his mom asking for a moral boost from family and friends. And since we are all sportsmen, I believe that makes us all friends, if not family. Please read on and forward on.

Thank you for your help!

Neal Easterbrook
SCI- SE Michigan Bowhunters Chapter
__________________________________________________ _____________________

Dear Friends and Family,

I am in need of a favor. My son Mark is in need of a smile. As many of you may know, Mark suffers from a rare Immune Deficiency. About a year ago Mark was placed on Chemo drug for a complication that he developed as a result of his Immune Disorder. While Mark may look well on the outside, on the inside he is not so well. The chemo drug has brought about it's own set of complications and have made many of his days difficult. As a Mother, it is painful to watch our children suffer both physically and emotionally. I thought about this over and over and wondered what I could do to brighten his day....and then it hit me. If I asked as many people as I could think of to send Mark a card in the mail all on the same day...what a surprise that would be and hopefully it would lift his spirits. I think that anything that is light-hearted, funny, or even to do with hunting (he is starting to show a real interest in that) would be appropriate. As far as the message, I think that anything positive like "we are pulling for you" or "hang in there, things will get better" would be great.

Please do not feel as though you have to do this. Over the years many people have asked if there was something they could do and really there never was anything in particular, except to be there for us, which you all have done so well. If you would like to participate however, we would be so delighted and appreciative. Please feel free to share this with as many friends, family or co-workers that you know and perhaps we can help Mark get a big smile for a day and days to follow.

If you would like to participate, please mail your card on July 18th, that way Mark should receive most of the cards around the same time. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope that I can return the favor to you someday.

In sincere appreciation,
Autumn Austin

Mail Cards on July 18th to:
Mark H. Austin
724 Venoy
Madison Heights, MI 48071




Tom222
06-29-2001, 05:01 PM
I'm placing a yellow sticky note on the edge of my monitor with Mark-July 18-Card. This way I will remember. I also have his address written there.
My troubles seem just a bit smaller today.

flatsman
06-29-2001, 09:02 PM
Cards on the way.

shooter921
06-29-2001, 09:51 PM
Card soon to be on its way, Mon or Tues.

80

Jackone
06-30-2001, 09:05 AM
Will mail mine on July 18. ;)

Neal
07-03-2001, 04:49 PM
This thing is getting really big and turning up on sites all over.....Please spread the word......if you belong to a site or forum that has'nt seen this please copy and past it. If you can't send a letter you can e-mail Mark at

MarkTheShark00@mediaone.net

The 00 in the addy are zeros, not o's

Have fun and be creative, mark will love it at a time he really needs some cheering up.

Please send the snail mail cards also at any time...If they get there early his mom will hold on to them until the 19th or 20th and give them to mark all at once.

His mom is really moved by this responce, She will give me a pic of mark and his cards to post on the website. please forward this event on to others, and thank you for making a difference in this boys life.

Mule TTT


Splitshot~ I will ask his mom if he can come chat some evening.

quix20
07-03-2001, 08:28 PM
i for one will send something to him. i will have my wife create a card for him. (she stamps her own cards with the rubber stamps) and i will have her make it extra special just for this young man.

what a great feeling it gives me to see so many sportsmen/women all pulling together thinking of someone other than themselves.

quix

weatherby
07-14-2001, 09:03 AM
5 days to get everything together .lets keep this giong.

NEMichsportsman
07-16-2001, 09:06 AM
I think it was great of you to post the letter, and will be dropping a line on the 18th.

jp

Neal
07-16-2001, 10:48 AM
SEND THEM NOW!!!!!..............Please send your cards now, We now want to get them to Mark before Thursday the 19th, because the media will be at mark's house to do a story on him.....and take pics of Mark with his cards from sportsmen and women all over the world........LET EM FLY

Neal

Neal
07-17-2001, 04:45 PM
Bump TTT.....for Mark

Huntress
07-17-2001, 06:12 PM
My card is in the mail! I hope it helps to cheer up Mark. :) I will look for the story on the news.

Neal: Please keep us posted as to how he is doing.

Best Regards.

Huntress

Neal
07-20-2001, 09:43 AM
The mail arrived at Mark's house yesterday, unfortunately Mark was not there. He was rushed to the hospital the night before with an irregular heartbeat. He spent the whole night there undergoing tests.....The next morning, he had to go to the U of M hospital, where he received more bad news. It was Mark's hope to get off the Chemo Therapy, but was told he must Stay on it for at least another year. He was crushed, he cried, he yelled at the doctors. The trip home from the hospital, according to mark's mom, was awful.....it was probably Marks Lowest moment.......... until they pulled up to their house and lawn which was decorated by the neighbors in dozens of smiley faces......When Mark entered his house their was a pile(100's) of letters, cards, and packages......As Mark started to open the cards a smile came to his face and stayed there or for at least the two hours I was there.......Included in the cards were vidoes, coloringbooks, wildlife prints, each card individually created for Mark.........There were cards from Norway, Africa, Sweden and from every State in America...........This day for Mark could not have happened at a better time........A reporter from the Oakland Press was there also, and the story appears on the front page of todays paper. I have not seen the story on their website yet, but expect it to be their soon.

The link is www.theoaklandpress.com

Those of you who sent Cards, I can't thank you all enough......I wish you all could have been there.........If there is anything I can do for you, please ask.....I am deeply in your debt.

Thank You on behalf of myself and the Austin family,

Neal

Hunter333
07-20-2001, 10:31 AM
I know that it is past the 18th but I am going to send something anyway......
Neal, is there any way that he can come to the Outing 2 in August? Is he physically able? Heck, i will go pick him up if need be. I think that if he can make it, he would enjoy an event that he would never forget!!
Let me know

Neal
07-20-2001, 03:17 PM
Update: Today's mail included another 200+ Cards and about 10 packages

Also for those in the S.E. Michigan area: please watch Channel 4 tonight for an exclusive on Mark in the 5:00pm hour and Fox 2 around 5:30pm.

Neal:D