Eve’s Cancer Angels give help— and hope—to patients in need!

Eve Beutler had seen far too many loved ones battle cancer, and she knew the emotional—and financial—toll it took. So she found a way to help cancer patients make ends meet and give them the strength to keep fighting!

On her way home from work, Eve Beutler couldn’t help replaying the heartbreaking conversation in her mind.

The Encinitas, California, family therapist was used to supporting people through difficult times. But when her client, Georgia, a single mom with stage IV breast cancer, confessed that she was no longer able to make ends meet, Eve’s heart sank.

Georgia had a 12-year-old son who depended on her, but cancer had left her unable to work, and the medical bills kept piling up . . .

“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” Georgia wept.

Eve knew all too well how draining—both emotionally and financially— cancer can be on a family. Her grandfather, father-in-law, a cousin and her best friend had all battled cancer.

Eve recalled the times she had driven her cousin, Terri, to doctor’s appointments, when Terri would wring her hands with worry that she wouldn’t be able to keep a roof over her son’s head.

She thought of the hot meals she’d made for her best friend, a single mom, when cancer left her weak and broke.

There has to be something I can do to help Georgia, Eve thought. Because no one should— or can—face cancer alone.

A friend in need

Eve called every major charity in the area. But none were able to help Georgia. So Eve decided to take matters into her own hands. After dozens of e-mails and phone calls to friends, she had enough support to host a fundraiser luncheon for Georgia. While the money raised was enough to help Georgia make rent and put food on the table for a couple of months, Eve knew it wouldn’t last. Thanks to medical advancements, people with stage IV cancer are able to live longer than ever before. They should be able to spend that time with their families, Eve thought. Curled up on the couch watching movies, sitting around the dinner table together, snapping silly photos—not worried about the basic necessities like rent, groceries, utilities and putting gas in their cars. So Eve started Cancer Angels of San Diego ( Cancer Angelsofsandiego. org), a nonprofit that provides ongoing financial support to stage IV cancer patients.

Eve’s angels

Word quickly spread, and donations began pouring in. Soon, Eve was helping dozens of people like Georgia. Schoulee, a single mom, was given eight weeks to live last December. Unable to work as her bone cancer progressed, Schoulee’s savings ran dry.

Then, Cancer Angels stepped in and helped cover Schoulee’s rent, subsidized car repairs so she could get to her doctor’s appointments and even bought her 18-year-old son, Cameron, a warm winter coat when Schoulee couldn’t afford to.

With some of the weight off her shoulders, Schoulee was able to focus on her health and the things that brought her joy, like attending Cameron’s volleyball games and his high school graduation ceremony.

A year later, Schoulee is grateful to have beaten the odds and still be here to see Cameron excelling in college.

“I can’t thank Cancer Angels enough,” Schoulee says.

Kelly is another single mom who got help and hope from Cancer Angels.

Kelly was just 30, with a seven-year-old daughter to support, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She didn’t know how they’d get by.

But with financial assistance from Cancer Angels, Kelly was able to keep a roof over Hailey’s head. Knowing that someone had her back let her breathe a little easier, and she was able to enjoy quality time with Hailey, playing on swing sets and drawing hearts in the sand.

And those moments of happiness fueled Kelly’s fight and hope. Six years later, she is still here with now-teenage Hailey!

Eve has helped families left homeless by overwhelming bills move into apartments. She’s stocked fridges, filled gas tanks and paid utility bills.

In the 10 years since its inception, Cancer Angels has raised more than $1.2 million and helped hundreds of people stay afloat—financially and emotionally.

As one man wrote after being helped by Eve, I felt like I had won the lottery!

“So many cancer patients feel isolated, but we show them that someone cares,” Eve says. “We don’t just provide financial aid—we give families hope and strength! And that’s the biggest blessing of all.”

— Rachel Cosma

The human spirit is stronger than anything that it.” can happen to C.C. SCOTT