Tonie' Country Roads Concert to College Tour
This Is Our Story
Tonie's Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization developed to focus on the Early Detection of Breast Cancer and to provide scholarships to those students who are looking to further their education in the medical field or as first responders.
Fighting the Fear of Breast Cancer
My name is Mark, and I lost my wife to Breast Cancer in February 2023. There have been many strides forward in the treatment of Breast Cancer over the past several years, and this is excellent news. Unfortunately, the fear of Breast Cancer keeps many patients from admitting they have a problem until it is too late. That was my wife, Tonie. Even after being married for 27 years, there were still things that scared her so much she would not talk to me about them. I have spent my life working as a Firefighter and in EMS, and I did not even see the clues she had left in the things she would say or do. I cannot tell you how many people I have helped save in my career. Ultimately, I could not save the one person who meant the most to me. The Early Detection of Breast Cancer is so important, and I am asking for your help.
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In the Fire Service, we have a tradition of calling out all the names of our members who have passed each year on Memorial Day. If the name is spoken, it cannot be forgotten. So, to prevent anyone from forgetting about Tonie, I created Tonie’s Fund, a 501(c)(3) foundation that raises money for Early Detection Breast Cancer Awareness and scholarships for students looking to join the “Fight” and further their education. Now that we have treatment options, we must find ways to encourage testing, provide resources to those diagnosed, and educate those on the front lines of the battle. We cannot lose another life based on fear.
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One thing I have been able to appreciate since the loss of Tonie was her love for music. I found multiple playlists on her phone and computer, and I can listen to them repeatedly to bring back our memories together. I will not let the music die with her. To raise money for these worthy causes, Tonie's Fund will be hosting concerts featuring local bands and artists. Tonie grew up just outside Morgantown, West Virginia, and she loved hearing Country Roads, played by the West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band, echoing through the mountains. So, naming this worthy event was easy: “Tonie’s Country Roads Concerts to College Tour.”
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Please help us continue the Breast Cancer fight and build a new tradition.
