A Brief Summary...

Thanks so much for checking out the Mark Yarman Benefit blog! I want to bring you up to speed as quickly as possible about who Mark is and his three-year battle with Melanoma Skin Cancer. Check back often as the gaps in the story will be filled in with more details soon (as time permits!).

Who is Mark Yarman?
Mark is a 53 year-old man born and raised in Shelby, Ohio. He graduated from Shelby High School in 1973. You may know Mark through his wife, Martha Fort who is also a 1973 graduate of Shelby High School. Maybe you know Mark through one of his step-daughters, Emily & Elizabeth (Betsy) Steele. There's a great chance you know Mark through one of his 9 brothers and sisters (Mark was the youngest of 10 children). Many people throughout the Richland County community know Mark as the videographer for the local TV station WMFD. There's a chance that you've come to this website and don't know Mark at all. No matter who you are or how you got to this website, thanks for coming! Mark is a special person and someone that many people know and care about.

When did he get cancer?
(the whirlwind version of the story - feel free to follow the links for more information):
In March of 2005, Mark was diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma Skin Cancer. If you know anything about Melanoma or even cancer at that, you know that Stage IV of any cancer faces you with some pretty bad odds of survival. Because of the fact that Mark was already Stage IV (i.e. the cancer had spread throughout his body) and because it was the fastest spreading of all the Melanoma's (nodular), Mark was given only 6 months to live. He spent a lot of time researching his odds, his treatment options, etc. and enrolled in an immunotherapy clinical trial for six months. Anyone who was a part of that knows what a long and painful process that was for Mark (and the rest of the family!). The clinical trial was well worth it however, as it did exactly what they had hoped it would do which was eliminate the cancer that had spread (against all the terrible odds of doing so!). Since that time Mark has had 4 brain tumors, the first of which requiring brain surgery to remove it and also requiring a follow up treatment (which I refer to as the Frankenstein treatment as they had to drill bolts in to his head to hook him up to the equipment). The remainder of the tumors all required gamma knife radiation . Another painful process for Mark. Recently Mark's cancer has come back in his small bowel, requiring another surgery (and one more on the way in a few months). And there you have the three year update (with many, many details spared!).

Why does he need your support?
As you can imagine, three years of medical treatment for Stage IV cancer is very expensive. Mark's employer, WMFD-TV, has been very generous and understanding during Mark's various treatments and setbacks, and the company's health insurance allowed Mark to be a candidate for the clinical trial that would have been unavailable to him had he been uninsured. However, the annual deductibles and out of pocket expenses that have accumulated over the past three years have become unmanageable. Mark and Martha have been able to make it this long without asking for a dime from anyone. The time has come however, that help is needed.

What can you do to help?
You or your business can help in a number of ways. One way to help would be to attend Mark's benefit (spaghetti dinner, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, etc.) on August 10, 2008 from 12-5 p.m. at St. Mary’s Parish (in the gym) 26 West St. Shelby, Ohio 44875. Paying for admission (amount yet to be determined) and participating in the silent auction and 50/50 raffle at the event is a great way to help!

Another way to help is by locating and donating items for the silent auction for his benefit which will be held on August 10, 2008. Some example silent auction items are craft items such as handcrafted wood items and artwork, gift certificates to local stores, restaurants, spas, etc., sports tickets, amusement park tickets, books, sporting goods, the list goes on and on! Anything you would be willing to donate would be graciously accepted!). Please contact Emily Steele (contact information below) to discuss where and when to send silent auction items.

Finally, if you feel compelled to help but can't attend the event, you can make a personal donation (made out to the Mark Yarman Benefit and sent to any Richland Bank location – 85 Main St. Butler, OH 44822). You can also donate securely, using the PayPal link on this site (the money will be directly deposited in to the Mark Yarman Benefit account at Richland Bank).

Any help you are able to provide would be very much appreciated!

Mark has lived his life as a very caring and compassionate person who touches the lives of everyone he meets. Please, help us touch his life in this time of financial need. Thank you so very much!

To RSVP or discuss any further details (i.e. silent auction, how you can help, etc.) Email me at markyarmanbenefit@gmail.com.

Gifts can be made out to Mark Yarman Benefit and sent to any Richland Bank location.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!