Community rallies to support father with leukemia

Bill Goodwin, a Windsor resident who grew up in Healdsburg, was
diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in January. What he
didn’t know then was just how far his friends would go to help him
out.
“They have five kids under the age of seven, including
seven-month-old triplets. It’s a lot. For Allison to try to do
both—be a mom, and take care of Bill—it’s a lot,” said Kathy Burns,
who has known Bill since kindergarten (although she only remembers
him since third grade).
Given this daunting situation, friends have started pitching in.
First, they created a “Beat it with Billy” website: www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/636165/login/.
The website enables them to coordinate help so that five friends
don’t show up with dinner on one night, and nobody brings dinner
the next. (Dinners are currently booked through March, but there
are openings in April.)
The website does not accept monetary donations on behalf of the
Goodwin family, only meals and physical help. But the family’s
financial situation, which was tight before the diagnosis because
of a lack of construction work, is even tighter now as treatment
bills pile up. Bill is not able to work, and while Allison works
part-time for the Healdsburg School District, her income doesn’t
cover the family’s bills.
Again sensing a need, friends set up a bank account at the
Exchange Bank in the Goodwin family name. Anyone can donate to the
fund simply by visiting an Exchange Bank branch, asking to donate
to the Goodwin Family Fund, and making a deposit.
“It’ll be for whatever they need—mortgage, electricity,” Burns
explained.
And now, the friends are putting together a series of
fundraisers to beef up that fund and get the Goodwin family back on
its feet.
Kellie Clark, the daughter of Goodwin’s friend and golfing buddy
Steve Clark, works at Johnny Garlic’s. But she did her research
before deciding where to host a “dine and donate” event benefitting
the Goodwins.
“Kellie’s doing this as a senior project for Windsor High
School,” father Steve Clark explained.
“I was talking to the manager of Johnny Garlic’s, and they give
back 25 percent of the proceeds, while most restaurants only give
back 20 percent. And they do it at both the Windsor and Santa Rosa
Johnny Garlic’s. Guests just have to mention that they’re doing the
fundraiser, or bring in the flyer,” Kellie Clark said.
“Just mention ‘Beat it with Billy,’ that’s all you have to do,”
Steve Clark added.
The dine and donate fundraiser will take place on March 15, all
day long, at Johnny Garlic’s in Windsor and Santa Rosa.
And that’s not the end of the fundraising. Clark is currently in
the process of trying to organize a golf tournament fundraiser for
May, and an April haircut fundraiser is already in the works. (See
sidebar.)
Finally, friends are visiting www.marrow.org and getting tested to
find out whether they might be a marrow match for Bill. The test,
friends noted, is easy, and requires only a cotton swab to the
inside of the cheek.
Bill Goodwin is currently in the midst of chemotherapy, and as
part of his treatment he will eventually require a marrow
transplant. His friends are committed to seeing him get better,
even if it means donating their own marrow.
In the meantime, Bill Goodwin and his wife Allison are staying
positive as they battle AML—and busy, with five children in the
house under the age of seven. Bill has two other children, too,
living in Washington with their mother.
“Bill’s a great father, and loves being a dad. He’s a great
husband, and his family means everything to him. He’s more worried
about them than himself,” Burns said.
The never-give-up spirit seems to be common to both the
Goodwins, and their friends.
“Even when my senior project is done, I’ll still be helping
raise money,” said Kellie Clark.
Lynda Hopkins can be reached at [email protected].