West Seattle resident Michael Browder is putting his new business to work for an important cause--helping a childhood friend in need.
Browder opened his unique fitness center Project 968 in January, and he decided to use it as a launching pad for a fundraising effort for Ben Delacour and his family.
Browder has known Delacour since middle school. They both lived on Vashon Island and have stayed in touch over the years on Facebook, even though their lives would take them to different cities and states.
Browder was also friends with Delacour’s twin sister Alia, who teaches first grade at Alki Elementary and also lives in West Seattle.
Browder learned that Alia and her family had started a GoFundMe campaign, after Delacour was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic colon cancer.
When Delacour developed an intense pain on his side and difficulty breathing in June 2016, his mother Jeannie took him to the emergency room. She thought he might have a kidney stone but instead scans revealed multiple cancerous growths.
The cancer, which started in his colon, spread to his liver and both lungs. The family was in shock, especially since Delacour appeared completely healthy and had no other signs of illness.
“There weren’t really many warning signs,” he said.
During the past two years, Delacour has been under the care of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the University of Washington Medical Center, receiving a number of treatments and a surgery on his liver a little over a month ago.
His family started a GoFundMe campaign to help with the costs of his current treatments, as well as procedures and surgeries in the future. In addition, they may need to travel to other areas where these treatments are available.
The family set a $15,000 goal in 2016 and has raised $11,000 so far.
Browder wants to bring them over the finish line and help raise the last $4,000. “Although my platform is small, I have a membership base,” he said. “We want to get as many people as possible to donate. And we’re trying to raise awareness of colon cancer.”
He is hosting a morning of boot camps on Saturday, May 19. The sessions will be held at 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
