a way to help

here is a letter regarding my friend, Mike Sweeney, who is on the Young Life staff in Rome, GA. I am simply passing it on.

Dear Friends,
This is not Mike or Cabell writing to you today. Actually, it’s friends of Mike and Cabell who have begged them for the opportunity to write to you regarding an important way you can help in this phase of their fight against stage IV metastatic melanoma.First of all thank you for being so faithful. Thank you for your prayers and for your phone calls, your meals, your plane tickets, and for all the heartfelt kindness you have shown the Sweeneys. You have been the real hands and feet of Christ and a wind in their sails. Countless times we have heard Mike and Cabell say with overwhelmed hearts how amazed they have been at how well you love them. So, thank you!Many of you have asked, “What else can we do? How can we help?” Please know your prayers and love have helped a ton. But today the Sweeneys face a different kind of need in the battle with melanoma: paying for a potential life saving treatment for Mike.

In Mike’s last update he described TIL therapy. He also explained that because the treatment is still in a research trial, it will not be covered by their insurance. This is very disheartening news given the fact that Mike’s doctors have made it clear that this therapy is the only real treatment they have that can offer Mike a cure.

One of the things that is so incredible about following Christ is knowing we are not without hope. We love and serve a Very Big God who cares deeply for all of us, who sees Mike’s needs, and who can provide in amazing and creative ways. We believe that by coming together as friends and family around Mike and Cabell, we can continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them.
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The price tag for TIL therapy is $200,000. The hospital will require the Sweeneys to pay 60% up front before Mike will be allowed to begin treatment. Mike is tentatively scheduled for treatment November 16th, pending payment. So, time is of the essence as we want Mike to get treatment as quickly as possible!

Here is where we get to help! There is an organization known as Helping Hands Ministry, an IRS approved 501-C(3) non-profit, that acts as a receiver and distributer of charitable gifts to people in need. It was founded by Terry Parker, who started the National Christian Foundation, in order to facilitate Christian charity through the gifting of tax-exempt donations. Through Helping Hands we have created the Mike Sweeney Medical Project. This allows you to give a gift that will go directly toward Mike’s medical treatment costs that is tax-deductible to you and does not create a tax liability for Mike and Cabell. That is an incredible blessing!!! Please visit Helping Hands website (Helping Hands) if you would like more information about the organization, or contact one of us

If you feel that this is something you would like to help with, you probably already know it in your heart. So, how can you give?Make all checks payable to Helping Hands Ministries, Inc.In the Memo section of your check, please write The Mike Sweeney Medical Project.Please mail all checks to:Helping Hands Ministries, Inc.135 Main StreetPO Box 337Tallulah Falls, GA 30573Trust that your donation information will be confidential. Helping Hands will handle all financial matters and receipt you directly. If you would like to give via credit card, stock, etc, please contact Helping Hands: Michelle York - michelle@hhmin.org