JULY UPDATE ON GUNNER GILLESPIE!

Meet Gunner Gillespie, age 7!

Good Morning!

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So many of you have been thoughtful enough to send me e-mails asking for an update on Gunner Gillespie. Well, I had dinner last evening with Gunner, age 7, his sister Garlynn, age 5, and their parents and my dear friends Gus and Janna. Gunner is in good spirits as he continues to receive treatments for a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, (DIPG) which is a cancerous tumor on the brain stem. Gunner is one of approximately 200 children in the United States who receive this diagnosis annually. He is a wonderful little boy who loves trains. In fact, his favorite movie is "The Polar Express" with actor Tom Hanks. Many e-mails ask me how to keep up with Gunner's updates.

Gunner's website on Caringbridge is: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gunnergillespie. Gunner is from Marshall County, Kentucky. Now, here's what others are currently doing and even how you can contribute to help Gunner and his parents with their enormous medical expenses.

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See a Penny? Pick it up and send it to Gunner with a prayer for good luck. Friends of Gunner have set up a special bank account too at:

The Gunner Gillespie Fund
Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB)
P.O. Box 467
Benton, KY. 42025

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SOUTHERN ILLINOIS FUND RAISER TODAY!: at the Party Room at Jaycess Park, Centralia, Illinois (where the Centralia, Illinois Orphans play baseball).
Entry Fee: $55.00
Registration: by 3:00 PM
Play Starts at: 4:00 PM

Prize Fund and Drawings of Prizes include a Family Pass to Holiday World, 4 Good Seats to the Cards/Cubs Game, Tickets to Southern Illinois Minors Games, an autographed Matt Shaw Southern Illinois Practice Jersey and other SIU items.
RSVP with: Mike at (618) 322-0638

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BENTON, KENTUCKY FUND RAISER ON FRI. AUG. 8TH
"Glowing for Gunner Night Gold 4-Person Scramble"
Check In Time: 7:30 PM
Start Time: 8:30 PM
Where: Benton Golf & Country Club, Benton, KY.
$200 Per Team
Glow Balls Will Be Provided!
Make Checks Payable to: The Gillespie Family Special Account
Anyone Interested in Being a Hole Sponsor @ $100? We want to hear from you!
Contact Information: Jeff Wiseman
(270) 527-3135 Day
(270) 527-7545 Night
jrpharmacy@hotmail.com Bobby Love (270)703-2442 bobby.love@marshall.kyschools.us

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LAWRENCEVILLE, ILLINOIS FUND RAISER ON OCT. 25TH

This is going to be a Celebrity & Business Auction! (Very cool, huh?)

Start Time is: 6 PM

We would also like to know how to get in touch with the lady driver that sends G-Man stuff! Maybe she can help us get in touch with other race car drivers. Anyone who would like to donate can contact:

Sue Loftis: (618) 943-7349 (Home) or (618) 928-0259 (Cell) or:
Katy Loftis: (618) 943-7349 (Home) or (618) 943-3286 (Cell)

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA MARATHON 4 GUNNER FUND RAISER, NOV. 1ST
Patrick Cork of Vincennes, Indiana will be running a 26.2 mile marathon in Gunner's honor on November 1st, 2008. Here's Patrick: "As I train this summer, I am collecting "marathon donations" in the amount of $26.20 to help pay for Gunner's treatment. Every dollar collected makes my training just a little bit easier so please spread the word. Checks can be made payable to:

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MARATHON 4 GUNNER

Old National Bank
909 12th Street
Lawrenceville, Illinois 62439

UPDATE: "There have been a number of people that have made $26.20 tribute donations for each of their healthy children. This is a great idea for those thinking of donating that have kids and /or grand kids of their own. Those of us who have children with no major health problems sometimes forget how blessed we are".

For more information and updates on this particular fund raiser, you can visit: www.freewebs.com/marathon4 gunner.

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TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WHO WISH TO HELP!
If anyone would like some of the postcards of Gunner and his Magic Train then please email Paul Whally at: pwhally96@msn.com with a one-dollar donation and postage sent to The Gunner Gillespie Fund listed above.

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My thanks to all of the brothers and sisters listed here who, like me, are on Gunner's Journey to see him through to a normal tumor-free life. Thanks for reading, my friends and enjoy your Saturday!

Michael