My name is Steve Beden, I am the Founder and Executive Director of the A Parents Love Foundation, a non-profit organization established to help individuals and families facing life impacting crisis.

I'm no different than millions of parents who love their children and who strive to provide the best possible life for them as they grow up and set out on their own to conquer the world. It's at this point where the A Parents Love story starts and why today we are focusing our efforts to help individuals and families facing life impacting crisis.

THE APL START
It was December 9th, 2005 and I can remember the day like it was yesterday. I had just gotten to my desk and my phone was ringing (nothing new). As I picked up the phone to greet the caller, it was my son (Jason), and I remember thinking to myself - "why would he be calling me at this time of the day".

It was only a few words, that took only a few seconds, but the tone in his voice told a much greater story.

Jason had called to ask if there was any way I could leave work and come meet him at his house. He had said that he needed to let us know about something very important and wanted to do it in person.

Two hours later, our world had been changed in ways that we never could have imagined.

My daughter-in-law, Heather, a newlywed of 7 months, a new kindergarten teacher of 3 months and a 23 year old with the heart of a lion had been diagnosed after what was to be a routine colonoscopy with stage 3 rectal cancer. Visit Heathers Cause now.

The days and weeks that followed all seemed to blur together as we spent a great deal of each day emotionally supporting Jason and Heather, searching out information, contacting family and friends, compiling questions and searching for answers.

As the calls from family and friends continued to grow, so did the realization that our family was facing a life changing crisis. A crisis that would require our untiring support and our unwavering commitment.

One afternoon while searching on the Internet for cancer treatments I stumbled upon a website that a dad facing a similar situation had put online. The site was pretty basic and I could tell that this person didn't have any real website skills (neither did I), but I remember telling myself that this was something I could do to help spread the word, gain the support and lessen the day to day work of keeping family and friends up to date on Heather's progress. So after more hours than I had ever imagined, the A Parents Love website was launched. Emails were sent to friends and family and I encouraged them to spread the word, offer Heather their support and if possible lend any financial support to Jason and Heather they could as we knew the medical bills were staging to mount.

The outpouring of support was overwhelming. As the word spread, Heather received emails from people she hadn't spoken with for years, from family members to far away to come visit and from complete strangers who had heard of her story. Prayer groups included Heather in their prayers and people from all walks of life offered story after story of support. By adding a simple link on the website where people could make an online contribution, Heather even received financial contributions from people that she didn't even know. The support, both emotional and financial was overwhelming and it was this simple and unexpected start that helped fuel the driving force behind the A Parents Love Foundation.

APL EXPANDS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
The months that followed generated emails and phone calls from individuals and families who were also facing life changing crisis and it was at this time that the realization of what could be offered became clear. In every story I heard, every family I spoke with and every crisis I learned about, there seemed to be one common denominator that helped give each person the ability to fight one more day - HOPE.

Hope that a loved one would overcome an illness
Hope that a family member would survive an accident
Hope that they would somehow beat the crisis, and
Hope that a cure would be developed to fight a life threatening disease

Statistics tell us that at one time or another in our lifetime each of us will be impacted by a crisis that will change our lives.

In every case we each have the ability to choose how we will deal with the news; ignore the fact, think that life is over or take a stand and fight the battle with the true belief that regardless of how tough the path ahead, we will overcome the crisis and win.

Today the A Parents Love Foundation is staging to provide individuals and families facing life impacting crisis with a Free Internet portal where they can spread the word, share the news, seek support and fundraise to cover medical expenses and to help the individuals and families to get back on their feet.

We welcome your involvement and your support in helping to make the dream of spreading APL to individuals and families around the globe a reality.

We are true believers that as you give unto the world, the world will give unto you. It doesn't matter whether you choose to support APL with a donation, you help to introduce an individual or family facing a life impacting crisis or you take this opportunity to join our Community Angel Network. Whatever the choice and at whatever level you choose, we thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

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