Online fundraiser to benefit sick child
Hawaii-based nonprofit UVSC has launched a one-day fundraiser today to benefit Trucker Dukes, a 3-year-old Maui boy battling cancer, the nonprofit announced Sunday.
The toddler is fighting stage IV neuroblastoma at his home in Haiku, where he is receiving hospice care.
Until 5 p.m. today, individuals and companies can donate to Trucker’s cause on the UVSC website, uvsc.org. All donations made using the website will be matched up to $10,000. One hundred percent of the donations will go to the Trucker Dukes Cancer Fund.
“When I was diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer and given only 17 months to live, there was a choice to either battle or give up,” said UVSC co-founder Jamil Newirth, a friend of the Dukes family. “I’ve been following Trucker’s journey. People worldwide are drawn to Trucker and his battle against cancer since 2014.”
UVSC, which stands for “U Versus Cancer” or “US Versus Cancer,” was launched this month to raise funds for individuals fighting cancer and selected Dukes as its first recipient. The nonprofit was founded by Newirth and Chris Thibaut, who lost his father to cancer in 1997. Both Newirth and Thibaut grew up on Maui. All monetary donations are 100 percent tax deductible.
“Transaction fees are being covered too, so a $200 donation means Trucker gets $400,” Newirth said. “The team at UVSC looks forward to much success and helping as many people as possible. Cancer is not a battle people should fight alone.”