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View Full Version : Taking Care of Family! SERIOUS

Pat Carol
11-20-2007, 04:00 PM
I am usually pretty silly when I post threads on this forum. In fact 90% of the time I like to be a jokester. Well I am at the 5% portion of myself that is very serious. I greatly appreciate this forum and the behind the scene players that help maintain everything for all of us. This is a great tool for all involved.
This is the first time I have ever come to all of you for help. So here it goes.
If you had attended the West Bend Rally you may have met a gentleman named John Diakonis. His motorcycle was definately memorable because he was awarded first place for paint on his r1100s.
John has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He is not only a great friend of mine but, he is a stand up guy to everyone. He is a loving husband and the father of a beautiful,smart 12 year old girl.
John Diakonis is also a very active member of the BMW Touring Club Detroit. He is also a member of a much larger family. That family is the BMWMOA. That is where you all come into play.
John is an independent contractor. I am asking for contributions to the following relief fund.

John Diakonis Cancer Benefit Fund
C/O: Fifth Third Bank
Attention: Mandy
11555 Metro Parkway
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312

I have never come to you for this kind of help. Nobody asked me to post this on the forum and ask for your help. Although I did get incentive to do something from a very gracious and beautiful lady that has organized a bowling benefit for the Diakonis family at the Universal Lanes in Warren, Michigan. If you happen to live nearby or just happen to be in town, the benefit starts at 12:00 on December 1st.
I believe in John. That is why I am coming to you for any type of help. John is in the fight for his life.
I have always considered the BMWMOA as my extended family. A lot of you may know me as the firefighter/medic that has chaired the first aid section at the rallies. I just want to be able to provide the best for my family, which is all of you.
I will keep you posted on John progress. I was deer hunting and called him from my deer blind. He is in great spirits and stated that he has never had anyone call him from a deer blind. He is about a week into chemo-therapy and on a 24 hour a day regimen of radiation treatments.
Anything that you could do would be great. The greatest that you can do is to keep John Diakonis and his family in your prayers.


Sincerely
Pat Carol
BMWMOA #48876
PAULBACH
11-20-2007, 06:16 PM
Done!
Greenwald
11-21-2007, 08:28 AM
The check is in the mail (lost my Dad to pancreatic cancer when he was 63).

Courage is not defined by the roar of a crowd, but by the quiet voice that simply says "I will try again tomorrow."
dancogan
11-21-2007, 10:09 AM
Thanks for letting us know, Pat. Another check in the mail!
535is
11-21-2007, 01:40 PM
If you link that bank account to a Paypal account, you will get even more donations from online solicitations ... since I usually do not have a checkbook around. :scratch
kbasa
11-26-2007, 04:48 PM
a bump for a righteous cause.

I've always said that your motorcycle friends won't let you down. This is one of those times.
Pat Carol
11-26-2007, 07:37 PM
Thank you Dave.
John is into about the second week of chemo and radiation. The radiation treatments are 24 hour a day treatments. This will go on for approx 6 to 8 weeks.
After these treatments are completed, the next treatments of radiation will be done in hospital with stronger doses. This type of radiation will be a pancreas specific type of therapy.
This Saturday will be the benifit/fundraiser for John and his family. We have BMW Motorcycles of Detroit and Southeast Michigan BMW Motorcycles helping out and donating auction items. There is a lot of support at the local level.
John is doing quite well for what he has been through so far. The next hoop will be the pancreas specific radiation treatments.
Please keep John and his family in your prayers.

Sincerely
Pat Carol
MOA # 48876
jasonTDI
11-26-2007, 11:03 PM
I'm donating. Never met the man but lost my dad to lung/pancreatic cancer too. 65.....Way not cool.

On a side note I hope the guy is insured. As a former agent, full line, and on top of that sold LOTS of health insurance I hope for his sake he had a major medical plan. Plus some real good life insurance. Being Motorcyclists we should all have both and plenty of life insurance to cover our families, lets face it...the odds of us getting squashed are a lot higher than the average cager. Term insurance is cheap.
kbasa
11-26-2007, 11:06 PM
Thank you Dave.
John is into about the second week of chemo and radiation. The radiation treatments are 24 hour a day treatments. This will go on for approx 6 to 8 weeks.
After these treatments are completed, the next treatments of radiation will be done in hospital with stronger doses. This type of radiation will be a pancreas specific type of therapy.
This Saturday will be the benifit/fundraiser for John and his family. We have BMW Motorcycles of Detroit and Southeast Michigan BMW Motorcycles helping out and donating auction items. There is a lot of support at the local level.
John is doing quite well for what he has been through so far. The next hoop will be the pancreas specific radiation treatments.
Please keep John and his family in your prayers.

Sincerely
Pat Carol
MOA # 48876

If you can make it...
Voni
11-28-2007, 09:40 AM
Thanks for the update, Pat.

Be sure to let us know how the benefit goes.

Snail mail sent ; )

Voni
sMiling
Pat Carol
11-30-2007, 10:24 AM
Tomorrow is the benefit. Kathy Jones has been working so hard. It has become a big deal with a lot of motorcycle dealerships throughout Southeast Michigan.
I'll be making the drive down in the morning. We are under a winter storm warning but, it will take a lot more than a little snow to stop me from going downstate. I'll keep you posted.

Thank You
Pat Carol
sumran
11-30-2007, 02:16 PM
If you link that bank account to a Paypal account, you will get even more donations from online solicitations ... since I usually do not have a checkbook around. :scratch

+1 on the PayPal. Thanks for letting us know.
Pat Carol
11-30-2007, 04:04 PM
Tomorrow is the fundraiser for John Diakonis and his family. I will get with the event coordinator and work on getting a pay-Pal account set up.

Take Care
Pat Carol
MOA #48876
BradfordBenn
12-02-2007, 01:06 AM
How did the bowling go?
Pat Carol
12-03-2007, 07:47 PM
The benefit went very well. The turnout was amazing. I did not bowl. I was afraid that I might show up the 5 and 6 year old children. If I did bowl, the staff would not let me use the lanes that had the gutter guards.
In all reality the fundraiser was a complete success. There were numerous people from the BMW Touring Club Detroit in attendance. Thank you TCD for being there.
A big KUDOS goes out to BMW Motorcycles of Detroit and BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan. Not only were there donations from the dealership's but, the employee's of these dealership's donated from their heart's in support for John and his family.
I know this is not a good time of year to ask for help in this way. I realize that you all have your own personal issues to deal with. I am asking for this help because John Diakonis and his family mean a lot too me. As I stated before, they are part of the BMWMOA Family.
I know some folk's had asked about a Pay-Pal account. I will be posting that information shortly.

Take Care
Sincerely
Pat Carol
MOA #48876
Voni
12-05-2007, 08:14 AM
Update. We need an update ; ):stick

Thanks, Pat. You rock!

Voni
sMiling