A message from our Executive Director:
When I think about why The December 5th Fund exists, my mind always goes back to that one, unforgettable day…December 5th, 2015. My late-wife, Laura, had been fighting cancer, and life had become a blur of treatments, pain, and uncertainty. But on that day, something amazing happened. By the Grace of God, Laura woke up pain-free. For the first time in what felt like forever, our family was able to step away from the heaviness of cancer and experience a day of normalcy, laughter, and love.
That day became the foundation of this organization because it taught me something profound: even in the darkest times, a single day of relief and joy can feel like a lifeline.
As The December 5th Fund has grown, we’ve worked tirelessly to provide that same experience to families facing the overwhelming challenges of cancer. But recently, I’ve felt a pull to focus even more sharply on those who need us the most.
That’s why starting this year we’re making a shift. We will now focus on serving families where a loved one is:
- Living with metastatic cancer, and
- On a maintenance treatment plan designed to manage the disease over time.
Metastatic cancer is a unique challenge. It’s not something with a clear finish line. For these families, cancer isn’t just a chapter…it’s the backdrop of their everyday lives. And maintenance therapy, while life-extending, often means an ongoing struggle to balance hope, uncertainty, and the demands of daily life.
This is where I believe D5F can have the greatest impact. By dedicating our resources to families in this situation, we can create moments of relief and connection that they might not otherwise have… a day of normalcy, laughter, and love.
When I think about my family’s December 5th, I remember how much that day meant to us. It didn’t erase the cancer, but it gave us a memory that carried us through some of the hardest moments that followed. I want to give that gift to as many families as we can.
I want to stress; this shift doesn’t change who we are – it strengthens our commitment to what D5F has always been about. We’re still here to create Great Days, and with your support, we’ll continue to make sure that families living through metastatic cancer feel the love, care, and joy they so deeply deserve.
Thank you for walking with us on this journey through the years. I know together we can ensure that no family facing cancer feels alone.
With gratitude,
Thomas Wiley
Executive Director
The December 5th Fund
