SEQUIM — A trio of friends is seeking help for a cancer-stricken Sequim mother, sea glass artist and community volunteer.
Lindsay Treiber Furber, Grace McHugh and Erin Huff have been working to raise enough money to smooth the life of their friend, Mary Beth Beuke, as she battles colon cancer.
In late March, doctors found two cancer tumors in Beuke’s colon; one is at stage 3, and the other is an inoperable stage 4, Huff said.
The cancer is aggressive and involves other key organs, including her bladder, pelvis and other body parts.
During treatment, Beuke has not been able to work, and bills are mounting.
Fundraising website
Huff, Furber and McHugh have set up a www.gofundme.com Web page at www.tinyurl.com/PDN-Beuke to raise the $12,000 Beuke needs for day-to-day expenses.
Beuke is being treated at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance during the week, returning to her Sequim home on the weekends.
Treatment includes six to eight weeks of daily radiation and chemotherapy to shrink the tumors, perhaps followed by surgery and an eight-week recovery period.
“We want to make it as easy as possible on her,” Huff said.
Beuke founded West Coast Sea Glass in 1998.
She is president of the North American Sea Glass Association, an internationally noted sea glass artist and author of The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass.
She is a retired youth minister, currently volunteers as the lead of women’s ministries at Sequim Community Church and is active in her children’s activities.
Bueke has three children, two whom are 12 years old and one 16.
Beuke said she has been stunned by the outpouring of support she has received from her friends during her illness.
“I have a pretty good army of supporters,” she said.
Coming from near, far
Friends have traveled from as far as Marysville to shuttle her from the hospital, shopping and to home, she said.
During her illness, Beuke has had to drop out of her usual activities.
She had to cancel a book-signing trip to Pennsylvania and hasn’t been able to get to her silver studio to create her glass jewelry.
“It’s been kind of a drag, not being able to do what I want,” Beuke said.
Beuke cannot work, and there are still bills to be paid — rent, utilities, and car payments, Huff said.
“We want her to be blessed with the friendship and generosity of the people who love her,” she said.
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the fundraiser website had raised $8,715 to help Beuke with her bills.
For those who don’t have access to the Internet or who prefer to donate without the website’s 5 percent cut from the donation, checks can be sent to Huff at 446 Livengood Lane, Sequim, WA 98382.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
