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Wilson Wright, captain of the New Trier Wrestling team and a New Trier Senior, reached out to yEAHbestlife to discuss a fundraiser he wanted to lead with the proceeds going to our organization. Wilson and his family were aware of yEAHbestlife and our mission, and he wanted to support our cause with his fundraising idea.

Wilson developed the idea “NT Wrestling PINS Cancer” and with the approval of his coach, involved the entire Wrestling organization. They sent out information to families regarding the fundraiser and received pledges for donations per the number of PINS the teams would get during the season. Wilson developed an Instagram account where he would post progress for anyone interested (NT Wrestling PINS Cancer).

At the end of the season, Wilson communicated to their pledging families the amount of pins received and the donations were sent in directly to yEAHbestlife. Wilson and the Wrestling Teams raised a total of $19,152 for yEAHbestlife that was presented at their end of year banquet!

We are pleased to report that since December 1, yEAHbestlife has raised over $52,000! This includes Elizabeth Clarke’s amazing fundraiser at Pit & Tap where they raised over $7000 as well as several large donations made at year end plus the many memorial donations made in honor of Erika. She would be so incredibly touched.

Currently we have $50,000 available to fund research. We have made the decision to split our available funds between two organizations that Erika supported and believed in.

First, we have made a $25,000 grant to ALK Positive. Erika was a board member at ALK Positive and believed in the organization and their self-funding of lung cancer research for her specific type of lung cancer.

We are excited to also be able to grant $25,000 to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation to fund research toward early detection. This was such an important area of research to Erika. Like she always said, she wanted to prevent the next young mother from receiving this devastating diagnosis.

To everyone who has donated, bought merchandise and supported yEAHbestlife, your generosity will save lives.
Thank you!

yEAHbestlife

It is with a heavy heart that we share that on Wednesday, April 27 yEAHbestlife founder, Erika Hlavacek passed away due to complications of stage IV lung cancer, a diagnosis she received more than four years ago. She was surrounded by friends and family.

Erika’s infectious sense of humor, magnetic energy, drive to make change, and radiating love for her family and friends were a force that drew us all in and made us better. She was a pilot, a mother, and an advocate who left her mark on the lives of thousands of people locally and throughout the country as a lung cancer patient research champion and founder of the nonprofit yEAHbestlife.

Erika also leaves a permanent imprint on our organization through her passion and vision. From the initial seeds of inspiration onward, Erika was an unwavering champion for lung cancer research, education and advocacy. Erika lived her best life full of fierceness, honesty, and love, and she inspired others to do the same. yEAHbestlife simply wouldn’t exist without Erika, her husband Jeff, and their two wonderful kids, Francesca and Antonio.

We send our deepest condolences, love, and support to the Hlavacek family and the community that loves them. We miss Erika terribly. Our lives are richer and more vibrant for the precious time we had with her, and we’re committed to honoring her every day with our work at yEAHbestlife.

In Tribute: ‘Best life’ founder Erika Hlavacek leaves everlasting impact – The Record, North Shore

We are proud to announce our latest donation to lung cancer research — to ALK POSITIVE of $10,000!

Camp Kesem is a camp that, for one week in the summer, kids get to be with other kids that have been touched by a parent/s cancer. I had the privilege to share our family’s story for Northwestern University’s chapter of Camp KESEM at their Make the Magic Gala 2021.

The Record-NorthShore: Wilmette woman’s nonprofit has raised $30,000 for lung cancer research.

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On this fabulous wintry day, we are proud to announce our latest donation to lung cancer research — to ALK POSITIVE of $15,000!

We are thrilled to announce our first donation — $5000 — to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation.

In less than two months, the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved seven new treatments for lung cancer, making major progress in the fight against the deadly disease.

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Living Your Best Life with Lung Cancer, a Personal Story

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The story of  yEAHbestlife, featured in Lungevity’s “Tell me Something Good” blog (4/20)

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In 2018, ALK Positive ran a campaign to raise funds for lung cancer research for which Erika raised $21,000. Dr. Lovly is one of the lung cancer researchers that won a grant from this campaign and this article is about a visit by lung cancer advocates, Erika included, to tour Dr. Lovly’s lab at Vanderbilt. (2/20)

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In the 2019 ALK Positive fundraising campaign, Erika raised $33,000 for lung cancer research while the entire campaign raised over $1,000,000.

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This picture is a before and after of Erika’s brain showing the effectiveness of Lorbrena. All of the dots in the left scan are cancer. The scan on the right is after 3 weeks on the drug and the cancer is virtually eliminated.

This medication was approved less than a year before Erika started treatment.

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Story about Camp Kesem written by Erika and posted by Lungevity

When Erika was first diagnosed in 2017, this great group of friends put together a parody video of encouragement to show their support for her which continues to this day. (10/17)