Brent Evans was everyone's best friend. He possessed an innate talent for making people feel special and valued – and he shared that warmth with everyone he came across, building many lasting connections. That is the legacy that carries on through the Live Like Brent Foundation (LLBF).
Brent started Carve for Cancer, a winter sports and music festival raising money for blood cancer, in 2012 during his battle with a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Brent wanted to touch the lives of others affected by cancer, just as he was comforted by the loving support of his friends and family.
Brent's cancer recurred in 2016, and instead of being discouraged, he felt even more impassioned.
He knew firsthand how a cancer diagnosis can disrupt your life, your plans, and your hobbies, and despite facing cancer treatments for a second time, he recognized the important role his support system played in his journey – and that not everyone had such a system. Brent wanted to create that community for others, including helping to offset the financial burden cancer can bring to families. He wanted to make sure his "friends" with cancer felt supported, heard, and befriended.
"Brent was lucky enough to have an amazing community around him, but he knew that everyone isn't as lucky," remembers Josh Frank, one of Brent's best friends who now helps run Live Like Brent Foundation. "He would have wanted to find a way to help everybody fight cancer the way he fought it. Our motto at the Live Like Brent Foundation is 'fight cancer like a legend.' Brent was a legend to us, and he fought cancer like a champion. He was positive every day. He approached that battle like he approached life – with vigor, dignity, and a lot of hope, and we want to give that gift to everyone else."
Brent maintained a positive outlook throughout his years of treatment, and he lived and loved every single day of his life with everything in his soul. When Brent passed away in July of 2017, his friends and family picked up the torch to continue his mission.
Today, the Live Like Brent Foundation, born out of Brent's Carve for Cancer, seeks to carry on Brent's work and inspire others with cancer to live every day to the fullest – just as Brent had. Organized completely by volunteers, many of them Brent's friends and family, LLBF hosts events from 5ks and golf outings to tailgates and galas – all in support of alleviating the financial burden of cancer.
Penn is grateful to be the recipient of LLBF's generosity – with a new fund to support our blood cancer patients who may have difficulties with costs related to their treatment including medication, transportation, housing, and food security. It is the thoughtful generosity of others who help our patients and families focus on healing, as a vital extension to the compassionate care at the Penn Abramson Cancer Center.
"We are so grateful to organizations like Live Like Brent Foundation, whose generosity helps ease the financial stresses that come with cancer, so patients can focus on important things like spending time with their loved ones and their health," says Penn Medicine Social Worker Team lead, Deborah Lowenstein, LCSW.
Join Live Like Brent Foundation on October 22nd at the Penn Relays 5K. Runners, walkers, and supporters can start online fundraising campaigns to help raise funds that will support patients here at Abramson Cancer Center.
The Live Like Brent Foundation will continue to improve the lives of those battling all forms of blood cancer and make their road to recovery just a little bit easier. For information on how you can support the LLBF or join them for their upcoming events contact LLBF.