ANNOUNCING the First Annual  RALLY AT RENEE'S To benefit THE LAUREL FOUNDATION A non-profit organization Dedicated to fighting children's cancer Through supporting: *CureSearch *Kosair Pediatric Oncology Unit * Camp Quality of Kentucky Friday, 6 June 2008  - 7:00PM Renee's 2946 Cairo Road Paducah, Kentucky Auction | Fellowship | Door Prizes | Raffle $25.00 per person Dare to care enough to share! See you there!

AUCTION ITEMS:

This is only a partial list of live auction items... there will be many more!!!!

• Segway Personal Transporter (This item has a minimum starting bid)
• Original Artwork
• 2 Dinner Cruises
• Fishing Trip to Florida
• 2 Golf Outings (Paducah and Louisville)
• Handmade Jewelry
• NFL Package - Fan Package + Lower Level Seating @ Tennessee Titans for Several Games
• Seaworld Tickets
• Holiday World Tickets
• One-Week Stay @ Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Condo - Beachfront http://www.gulfcoastcondominiums.com/
• 2008 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Proof Coin
• 4 St. Louis Cardinals tickets + parking pass
• 4 Cincinnati Reds tickets
• An autographed Landon Donovan jersey... (professional soccer star)
• Mission Skateshop Skateboard Setup - Skateboard, Pads, Helmet ($200 value)

“The Laurel Foundation” Mission Statement:

To promote awareness for childhood cancer. We strive to support the necessary research to find a cure for this devastating disease so that every child that is diagnosed with cancer survives and leads a long, healthy and productive life. “The Laurel Foundation” will do this by hosting fundraisers and donating the proceeds to institutions both locally and nationally who support this cause.

LINKS:

• http://www.caringbridge.org/ky/laureldortch/index.htm
• http://www.curesearch.org/
• http://www.campqualityky.com/

*Laurel Dortch’s journey with Cancer: Laurel was a normal, happy, healthy, curious, fearless, and beautiful 5-year-old girl. On December 13^th, 2004 her life and her loved ones' lives changed forever. She was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer called PNET (Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor). This cancer is in the Ewing Sarcoma family. Over the next nine months she spent the majority of her time at Kosair Children's Hospital. She endured three surgeries, 14 chemotherapy and 25 radiation treatments. Words cannot explain how physically, emotionally and mentally tough this was on her little body and everyone around her. She was very brave and her faith never wavered. She completed her final chemotherapy treatment on August 6^th 2005. Because PNET cancer is very aggressive she must do quarterly scans for 5 years, then yearly, to see if her cancer has come back. On August 22, 2006, Laurel got great news of clean scans and that continues today. Laurel, her family and close friends have developed a passion to make a difference in the lives of the children and families that are dealing with this horrific disease. That is why she has created “The Laurel Foundation”.

The Laurel Foundation began in 2006. We have hosted fundraisers in Louisville , Ky. and accepted donations. 2008 dawns with the pleasure of kicking off fundraising in Paducah , Ky. , hopefully with help from our friends.

The Laurel Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit charitable foundation, (tax ID # 20-5178914). Your support is tax deductible.  The Board of Directors is: Jay Dortch, Cheryl Dortch, Terri Clark, and Jeff Cooper. Laurel and her brother Logan are ad hoc members.

To date over $43,000 has been raised with donations to the following:

a) Cure Search, an organization that unites the world's largest pediatric cancer research organization Children's Oncology Group and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation:  $21,000  (48.8%) 

This donation was restricted to research. Cure Search and the Children’s Oncology Group develop and coordinate childhood cancer clinical trials. Through the work of these organizations, children with cancer, regardless of where they live, can access state-of-the art therapies and the collective expertise of world-renowned pediatric specialists. Virtually all the pediatric oncology units and staffs in North America and many abroad are members and share research, diagnoses and therapies.  Their work enabled Laurel to stay in Louisville during her fight against cancer and get the same quality expertise as if she were at St. Jude's, Sloan Kettering or any child oncology unit.

b) Children’s Hospital Foundation at Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville , Ky. $17,000  (39.5%).  This donation was directed to the Cancer Care for Children Fund on 7West. This is the floor on which Laurel spent much of her time during her treatment.  The staff supported our entire family during her many days there.  Kosair is a member of the Children's Oncology Group and Cure Search.  It is a not-for-profit hospital that cares for all children regardless of whether a family can pay or not.  It is also the primary pediatric hospital for the University of Louisville and is a part of Norton Healthcare.

c) Camp Quality of Kentucky :  $4,000  (9.3%)

This enabled four children to spend six days and five nights at summer camp with fellow survivors of cancer and those children still battling their cancer. Camp Quality is located in Bloomfield, Kentucky .  The camp is run totally on donations and gives a wonderful, loving, normal experience to the deserving campers. 

d)  $1,000 is held for expenses and tax returns. 

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned there was, within me, an invincible summer."  --Albert Camus

  "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul."   --Emily Dickinson

  "Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence."   --Lin Yutang

The Laurel Foundation, and all of its’ beneficiaries, would like to thank you for your time and consideration.