Love From Margot Foundation Update

“Life is bittersweet. The trick, I guess, is to know when you’re in the bitter and when you’re in the sweet.”
—Margot Murphy, the inspiration behind the Love From Margot Foundation

It’s been a busy couple of weeks here at the Love From Margot Foundation, with three new clients being approved for support, all of them residents of the Coachella Valley region who are battling cancer.

Meanwhile, our founder Mike Murphy has been traveling on the East Coast, promoting his newly released book Love Unfiltered, which tells the story of the inspiration behind our work. Mike remarked on how even the most hardened New York media types were genuinely moved by hearing about Margot and the work that is now being done in her memory. All proceeds from the book go directly to the Love From Margot Foundation, so we’re thrilled that it’s getting such a warm response.

After returning from New York, Mike traveled to Southern California to meet our new grantees. He shared this moving story about one of those meetings:

“What would your mother want,” I asked, “financial support or a breast?” I was speaking to George, the 18-year-old son of a woman named Esperanza, at the Starbucks in Rancho Mirage. His 12-year-old sister Dayana was also with us. Esperanza had applied for a financial grant from the Love from Margot Foundation, but she doesn’t speak English, so her kids were acting as translators.

Esperanza came to the Coachella Valley more than 20 years ago from Mexico, initially working in the fields to gather our produce. There is little doubt in my mind that this is where she was exposed to chemicals that are now responsible for this 47-year-old woman having breast cancer.

I have worked with close to 20 women in the Coachella Valley this past year, all with some type of cancer. Most are Hispanic and on Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal provides insurance for 18 months, and the typical course of treatment for breast cancer in these cases seems to be a single or double mastectomy is performed, then chemotherapy, followed by radiation. After 18 months the patient is left with a deformed body, a ruined immune system, and no more insurance!

That is where Esperanza finds herself now. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, her husband was injured on the job, leaving them with less than $1,500 per month to live on. In her grant application, she wrote, “My self-esteem is very low, I really feel bad not having my breast reconstruction surgery but I no longer have insurance, can you help?”

That is why I asked her son which see would prefer. He repeated the words in Spanish, and with tears in her eyes, she replied, “a breast.” So that is what the LFMF will give her: a new breast. If you’d like to help, please donate here!

Thrift Store:

In an effort to raise more funds for the foundation to support our clients, Mike is looking into opening up a thrift store across the street from our headquarters here in Oakland, CA. We are looking for caring and motivated individuals to volunteer their near-new clothing, help us set up the store, and more! For more information, please email us at: info@archive.lovefrommargot.org with the subject line: Thrift Volunteer

Help As You Shop with Amazon Smile:

Amazon Smile is a great way to give to charity as you shop. Simply go to smile.amazon.com and when prompted, select the Love From Margot Foundation as your charity. Then shop the entire Amazon store, and .5% of what you spend will be automatically donated to us. Just remember to start from smile.amazon.com.

Buy Mike’s book:

If you haven’t yet purchased your copy of Love Unfiltered, or if you want to give copies to your friends and family, the book is available on Amazon or directly at MikeMurphyUnfiltered.com. With the holiday season approaching, it makes a wonderful gift! All proceeds go directly to the Love From Margot Foundation to support our clients battling cancer.

Donate:

And of course, your direct donations are always deeply appreciated. Because Mike covers all the charity’s overheads himself, every penny you give goes directly to help our clients and ease their burden as they fight for their lives. Donate here.

Upcoming Event:

If you live in Southern California, please join Love From Margot Foundation Founder Mike Murphy for a book-signing hosted by one of our wonderful supporters, Raquel. Click here for the details for the event.