The Murray Hotel

We wanted to take the opportunity to introduce you to a wonderful organization here in Livingston called the Payden Memorial Foundation.  We asked Janette Polsak who is one of the founders to be a guest blogger and explain a little about what they do.  In order to fund the wonderful work they do for families in this community and beyond they host a bike ride every July that raises money and is also a lot of fun.  The ride takes the bike riders through some beautiful country.  Here is what Janette had to say:

The Foundation is named after my son, Payden Polsak.  He was six year old when he died in November 2001 as a result of a cancerous brain tumor (medulloblastoma) and the Payden Memorial Foundation was founded in 2002 after realizing the tremendous need present on so many levels for those Montanans living with children with cancer.  Payden battled for this life with amazing courage.  He taught us that life is precious, that love and kindness make a difference, and humor and laughter lift your soul.  Though he is not with us physically, his spirit remains as a mission to the Foundation.

When cancer touches the lives of many Montana children, the costs associated with coping with and treating the disease go well beyond what medical insurance covers, if a family has insurance at all. Many Montana families have to travel out of state to treatment centers like Seattle and Salt Lake, and hotel, food, phone and other bills quickly mount up. This is where the Payden Memorial Foundation can and does help. With the health and well-being of a child the most important thing on anyone’s mind, helping a family that needs support in meeting expenses can take at least one aspect of the challenge out of the equation.  Our mission is to ensure a reasonable quality of life, to help with access to care and to provide a smile and a flame of hope in the face of adversity.