Mesothelioma is often considered to be a disease that is contracted by older people. However, one young woman has been fighting mesothelioma for nearly a decade. Now, her friends have formed a new charitable organization to raise money to pay off mounting medical bills.

Shanna Kurtz of Cuero, TX has been fighting her peritoneal mesothelioma cancer since 1999.

Gay Wickham, Cheri Travis and Kelly Young are the core members of Cook for the Cure. They gather on Sundays to prepare a delicious meal, and ask those who attend and enjoy the food to make a small donation. The donations are given to Shanna to help defray the costs of her mesothelioma-related expenses.

Although Cook for the Cure has only been in operation for a month, they have already raised more than $1,100.

Shanna Kurtz is 30 years old and lives in Cuero, TX. While attending North Arizona University, she received a heartbreaking diagnosis. At the tender age of 20, doctors told Shanna that she had developed peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive form of cancer. Shanna was told her doctors that 80 percent of people with this disease do not live very long after being diagnosed.

Shanna, ever the optimist, decided that she would focus on the positive side of this terrible news, and always keep in mind that she still had a twenty percent chance of survival.

Shanna leads an active life of charity work. She recently chaired Project Cinderella, where underprivileged boys and girls are given a chance to go to the prom. The project provides a prom dress or tux, dinner for two and makeup services for the girls.

Cook for the Cure members are now planning a charity bike ride to provide additional support to Shanna. This Saturday, residents of Shanna’s hometown are invited to attend the bike ride and benefit BBQ. The event will begin in the town of Victoria, TX Saturday at 2 pm.

Bike riders will pay an entry fee of $30 to ride in honor of Shanna. The entry fee also allows riders to take part in the BBQ.

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