A personal thank you message from Chris

April 18th, 2012

I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for your donation, thoughts and hugs.  They were unexpected and heart touching.  As a police officer I've become accustom to helping others with no expectation of any kind of return.  There is the occasional thank you, but mostly I do my job and I'm proud to work side-by-side with other like me.  For many years my wife and I decided to keep my health issues between us and very few others.  I’ve spent a large portion of my career as a member of the Longmont Police Department’s SWAT Team.  We as a team are closer than most of our fellow officers.  I’ve also had the pleasure of being a part of the SWAT Sniper Team for about 12 years.  As such I've developed close relationships with the members of the Sniper Team.  Greg Ruprecht, the organizer of my fundraiser, was one of my sniper teammates and to my good fortune we have become friends.  Greg is one of those limited few outside the medical professionals who knew of my illness.  Of course others know I've been ill at times, but very few knew the ongoing details.  After more than 20 years in law enforcement I’ve become use to being the one who helps.  I, like many other police professionals, find it hard to accept help, let alone ask for it.  I finally agreed to accept help after sharing an update with Greg.  You see, Greg lost a good friend to cancer not too long ago.  Greg was inside the circle of people who were present when his friend fought through the final moments of his life.  It was hard on Greg and I believe it was an experience that changed his life forever.  Greg told me he wanted to help me and my family deal with the medical expense burden that is often associated with a battle such as mine.  I told Greg I didn’t need help and that I would be fine.  Greg being a true friend has continued to be there for me and would take time to just listen as I would express my frustration with my doctors, my lack of progress and how my condition had become aggressively worse over the past year.  Occasionally Greg offered to arrange fundraising and I would always decline. One day Greg and I were talking and I declined his help once again.  I guess Greg was tired of me saying no.  He told me that he had watched a good friend die and didn’t want to do it again.  He drove the spike deeper when he asked, “You’d do it for me wouldn’t you”.  Of course the answer was YES! During the next several weeks I procrastinated, but Greg kept after me.  It was important to me that some people heard the news from me; I was sicker that they knew and I need a liver transplant in order to basically save my life.  The next couple of weeks were some of the hardest weeks I’ve ever had.   I was more emotionally drained than physically, which is saying a lot with my current condition.  I had many one-on-one talks and just about each one ended in tears.  We had been so secretive that most of my family didn’t even know the details.  The day before one of our Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) meetings I had finished.  Greg and I agreed that he would share my fight during the FOP meeting.  I wasn’t there, but I guess there were some shocked looks and a lot of questions.  At Greg’s request, people didn’t bombard me with questions, but I could notice the looks of concern on their faces as we passed in the halls of the Police Department. Greg had organized a fundraiser before and was very happy with GiveForward.  Greg suggested we use GiveForward and I agreed.  I didn’t know what to expect, but me and my family have been overwhelmed by the support and comforting words we’ve received.  It’s still not easy to accept help from people, but please know that this experience will stay with us forever.  Our faith in our "fellow man" is stronger than ever.  For years we have donated to those less fortunate and we know how good it feels.  That doesn't lessen our desire to show our appreciation.  I wish we could do more, but at this time all we have to offer is our heartfelt thank you!   Thank you from myself and on behalf of my entire family!   Chris Schmad

We Made Our Goal! Thank You Donors!

March 5th, 2012

With the generous support of so many we made it to our goal.  Thank you donors!  If you just logged on to the site to donate please consider looking through the many other pages of folks, just like Chris, who are in need of the generosity of others.  You can even search by "keywords" to find someone with a particular need.  DO IT...your credit card is already sitting next to your computer as you were prepared to donate to Chris!  You can still feel good about helping out!!!!

90% of goal reached! Thank You!!!

February 24th, 2012

Thank you to everyone who has helped us get this far so fast!  Chris and everyone monitoring this fundraiser are amazed and truly grateful for the generosity and kind words of so many people from across our great country and the world.  It is people like you who truly make a difference.  Stay tuned for the next update, when I announce we raised 100%!  I know we can do it.

WE ARE 1/2 WAY THERE! Magpul and you all ROCK!

February 11th, 2012

We are floored by the amount of donations in the last two days!  Magpul Industries Corp. jumped onboard with matching donations up to a total of $5000 and was instrumental in getting the word out.  So many donations from folks who have never met Chris.  You have renewed the faith in many that the world is full of kind, caring, and compassionate people!  My personal thanks to all of you.   Greg

MAGPUL INDUSTRIES MATCHING DONATIONS!!!!!

February 9th, 2012

Magpul Industries will match up to $5000 in donations made in the next 72 hours!! Thank you Magpul.  

Spread the Word!

February 5th, 2012

Please forward this website to those on your email list or post it to your Facebook page.  You will be amazed at the generosity of others!

We Have a Matching Donor!!!

February 4th, 2012

Steve and Connie will match each donation up to a total of $1000!!! Their offer can be viewed on the far right side of the page.  Thanks Steve and Connie!!!

Off To A Great Start!!!

February 2nd, 2012

Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far!  I have faith we will meet the goal after seeing so many people donate so much.  Please feel free to email the link to this page to everyone you know or add it to your Facebook page.  My wife did so with her fundraiser for a friend with incredible results.  Stay posted to this page for future updates.  Thanks again!