EMPIRE -- As Knut Hill completes one journey, his mother-- in-law, Margy Davis is about to begin another.
Hill, who completed a more than 200-mile cross-country ski trek from shore to shore across northern Michigan on Sunday, undertook the adventure to raise funds for the bone marrow transplant Davis needs to treat the Myelodysplastic Syndrome she was diagnosed with in November.
"Our family has never faced this big of a challenge. I knew I had to come up with something big to help her out," said Hill, of Ann Arbor, who left the shores of Lake Huron in Oscoda in January and spent every opportunity skiing to his destination on the shores of Lake Michigan.
The marathon runner and longtime cross-country skier juggled taking care of his 2-year-old son, Bekan, with planning for trail support and commuting to the northern Michigan trail. Family members drove him north and picked him up at the end of each day, mostly spent on the Michigan Shore-to-Shore trail.
"My wife was skeptical when I said I wanted to ski across Michigan, but in the end she is my biggest supporter," said Hill, whose wife, Meredith will contribute her bone marrow for her mother's transplant, set to take place at Johns Hopkins Transplant Center in Baltimore, in the next few months.
The transplant, the best chance treatment for Davis, is a costly one, even with her insurance company paying more than half the costs.
"When we first were told about the transplant, they said the cost was $300,000 and that none of it was covered. Eventually we were told the insurance would cover about two-thirds, but that still leaves more than anyone would ever guess they would have to pay for something to save their life," said Hill, noting that generous gifts of more than $11,000 have given them a start on the $80,000-$120,000 bill that will face Davis, who lives in Harrisburg, Pa.
Donations are being accepted through Hill's Web site, margytransplant.org, which includes an online link for making tax deductible donations. In addition to gaining monetary support through the Web site, Davis has received emotional support as well.
"She has reconnected with people she has not heard from in years, people who are praying for her and spreading the word about her," said Hill, noting that his mother-in-law is one of the nicest and warmest people he has ever met.
While Hill was glad for the support from friends and family, he is amazed by the generosity of complete strangers he encountered on the journey that took him through small towns across northern Michigan.
"When they found out what I was doing, people were so nice. I had a man offer to go get me a warm meal, one offered some information on nutrition-based cancer treatment and a lady gave me all of the cash that she had in her purse," Hill said.
Donations can be made through Knut Hill's Web site, margytransplant.org or by mailing a check to NTAF, 150 Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120, Radnor, Pa. 19087. Make the check payable to: NTAF Mid Atlantic Bone Marrow Transplant Fund. In the memo line print: In honor of Margy Davis.
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