Sugar's blog: "SAVE JOE MATEREK’S LIFE FUNDRAISER"

Well, Big Joe had his surgery and made it through. So far, so good. Still have our fingers crossed... You never know with the after effects from brain surgery... Thanks to all for all the prayers for Big Joe :)

Big Joe made it to California for his brain surgery!!! He is scheduled to be operated on today, January 8, 2008. All prayers are appreciated for Joe. I pray he comes home the same old Big Joe!!! The surgery could leave him deaf, blind, unable to speak, or unable to walk... I spoke with him before he left and he was scared. I told him everything would go exactly as it was supposed to, and to have faith... I also told him to remember how many people loved him and will be there for him when he gets back, no matter what!!! Just when I think my life has all these problems, someone always comes along in my life with something worse than what I am going through. I must remember to remain grateful even on the most miserable of days... Love you Joe! (((HUGGGZZZ)))

Joe Materek's Fundraiser B-BQ Sat. Sept. 15th Noon - 6 pm Veterans Memorial Park Middletown, Connecticut Please Come Be A Part Of Helping Joe Get The Surgery He Needs, For A Life Threatening Brain Tumor Tickets Are Only $ 20.00 Food - Fun- Entertainment- Raffles Raffle items include- TVs- DVD players and something very special for Patriot Fans. One Of A Kind Paintings For Tickets Call 860-538-5047 Tax Deductible Donations Can Be Sent To: Joe Materek Fund P.O. Box 813 Hartford, Ct. 06142

SAVE JOE MATEREK’S LIFE FUNDRAISER Hosted By:: "FRIENDS OF JOE" When: Friday Jan 26, 2007 at 6:00 PM Where:: Zandri's Stillwood Inn 1074 South Colony Road (RT 5) Wallingford, CT 06492 United States SAVE JOE MATEREK’S LIFE FUNDRAISER WILL HOLD A DINNER/DANCE/SILENT AUCTION FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2007 Hello. My name is Joe, and in June of 2006, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I was devastated, especially after surgeons at UConn and Yale told me they couldn’t help. They did tell me that there is a surgical team that could do the very complicated procedure and that the team is in Los Angeles, California. The insurance company has denied the “out-of-state” procedure, even after numerous letters from the surgeons at Yale, UConn, my physicians, myself and the surgeons in Los Angeles, but there is good news. Some friends of mine have decided to have a fundraiser on my behalf. I can’t begin to put in words how much this means to me. To know people care enough about me to take the time to put together a fundraiser to help me is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of. Thank you all so much for the generosity of your time and in helping me through this very emotional situation. May God bless you all. Sincerely, Joe Materek FOR TICKET & EVENT INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Tim Houlton 860-581-3007 Cindy Carone 860-688-4127 Russell Ferrigno 860-874-1319 Eve Schreiber 860-538-6906 Tax Deductible Donations Can Be Made To: “Save Joe Materek’s Life” P.O. Box 813 Hartford, Connecticut 06142-813 Event Fundraiser Will Be Held At: ZANDRI’S STILLWOOD INN 1074 SOUTH COLONY ROAD (ROUTE 5) WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2007, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. TICKET PRICE: $25 CATERING, ENTERTAINMENT, SILENT AUCTION PROVIDED BY “FRIENDS OF JOE” Sponsored by Addicts Helping Addicts, Inc. 501(c)(3) Business I.D. 0881994