Fundraiser for local cancer patient slated for April 16

Andy Jacobs originally went to the hospital for back pain on Nov. 2, only to discover he had a rare form of blood cancer. After bouncing from urologists to endocrinologists to surgeons to an entire team of doctors it was finally determined that he had Burkitt’s Lymphoma on Nov. 23.

“They said you do not even have time to drive,” said Andy’s mom, Deb Jacobs. “This cancer can double in size in 24-48 hours.”

That quick trip required a $47,000 helicopter ride to Denver, followed by 23 days of tests and intensive treatment.

During treatment, it was discovered that the active 28-year-old Andy Jacobs also had seven internal tumors.

“It is just the luck of the draw — but what is weird is 10 years ago a young man in Powell had this same cancer,” Deb Jacobs said.

Scott Buckingham is now 10 years in remission and his family visited with Andy and his family, she said.

“They have been a real encouragement for us,” Deb Jacobs said. “It seemed bleak.”

Now Andy Jacobs has gone through more than $1 million worth of medical treatment, Deb Jacobs said. Fortunately he still has health insurance coverage from his job in the North Dakota oilfields, so his estimated out of pocket expenses are between $25,000 to $35,000, she estimated.

“It’s not just medical (expenses),” said Andy’s aunt, Cheryl Bears. “It is traveling and hotels and the taking time off from work, and you know we don’t know what kind of life-long consequences Andy will have from this so we are really hoping to help him out.”

As if the battle against cancer wasn’t hard enough, Andy Jacobs was hit with some unexpected financial burdens — three deductibles in three months. He met his first deductible on his original health insurance, but then his company switched providers so a new deductible had to be met. Then about a month later, the calendar flipped into a new year, with a third deductible to meet, Deb Jacobs said.

“But, compared to $1 million, that is good,” she said.

Now Andy just has two more treatments to go, Deb Jacobs said. But it remains unknown how much more it will cost him for treatment afterward. As of Tuesday, he is on the road between Powell and Billings for blood work and will be heading back to Denver soon for more treatment.

“We don’t know how much of that will be ongoing because he is a young strapping buck,” Deb Jacobs said.

Cook-off for cancer

Chicken noodle soup does the trick for the cold, but cancer needs something with a bit more kick — chili and cinnamon rolls.

A chili cook-off and cinnamon roll bake-off fundraiser and auction to help Andy Jacobs with his expenses is set for April 16 at the Powell Eagles.

The doors open at 9 a.m., cooking starts at 11 a.m. and tasting is set for 3:30 p.m.

Deadline to participate in the cook-off and bake-off is Wednesday and participation costs $25 for chili and $10 for cinnamon rolls.

Because of treatment scheduling, Andy might not be at the fundraiser, Deb Jacobs said.

“That is a good thing because he is not supposed to be around kids under 12,” she said. Cancer treatment had him weakened to the point of catching pneumonia — which lead to further hospital treatment.

On top of the chili and cinnamon rolls, the fundraiser will also have live and silent auctions.

“I hope we raise a ton of money, we have some great auction items,” Bears said.

Some of the auction items include several varieties of guns — shotguns, rifles and a pistol — as well as pre-season Broncos tickets, several prints and gift certificates from local establishments. Some of the prints are from well-known Wyoming photographer Ron Hayes.

“They have been super generous and great to work with,” Bears said.

Also up for auction is one registration for the Big Horn Basin Football Camp plus a whitewater rafting trip through the Wind River Canyon that’s good for fifth- through 12th-graders.

The live auction’s time hasn’t been set yet, but Bears speculated it will be around 6-7 p.m.

One of the guns will be up for a type of raffle that uses a playing card deck.

The fundraiser will also feature a cash bar, music, games and other prizes.

“People have been so amazing, so many people have been so generous already,” Deb Jacobs said.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to Andy Jacobs and his family for the expenses relating to his treatment.

For more information, call 307-202-0965 or 307-272-4528 or email j-a-laughlin@

hotmail.com.