Captain Richie Memorial Scholarship

In honor and memory of Richie the family has established a memorial scholarship at Cape Fear Community College.  The Captain Richie Memorial Scholarship will be awarded yearly to a Marine Technology student who excels in boat handling, seamship and navigation.  The scholarship will help deserving students along their path toward a maritime profession.

Anyone who would like to honor Richie through a contribution may send it to:

CFCC Foundation
Captin Richie Memorial Scholarship
411 North Front Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Memo Line: Captain Richie Memorial Scholarship

Our goal is to $10,000 endowment level so that it will go on forever.  Thanks for all your help.

Update

Around 9:30 Am on June 11, Richard Shipman Spears III passed away after a long and very trying battle with cancer.
Richie, Nikki, family and friends all endured a lot of pain through this ordeal, but having an outlet like this helped to make it easier for everyone to share in the love that seemed to revolve around the Spears family. After coming to know the Spears family, it is no wonder to me why Richie was such a kind and giving man. He was truly blessed with a great family, and great friends.

I know that having Richie and the Spears family in my life has made me a better person and he will truly be missed.
There is work on a memorial or scholarship fund in Richie’s honor. I hope that we can continue this site with information on such and continue for ways to give in the great name of Richie Spears.

Plans appear to be set for a celebration of life for Richie on Sunday June 29th in Hatteras Village, NC. The plans consist of spreading Richie’s ashes on a falling tide in the inlet, with a pot luck dinner afterwards. All are invited to attend.

B. Kaiser

Richie Update

An update from Richie’s dad.

Hi everyone,

Wow, no way to say how thankful we are for the love and prayers.  Sorry I have lagged in updates.  For the last several weeks the treatment plan has been a moving target and by the time we all figure out what the plan is, it changes.  But, I think we are now onto something the doctors are going to be able to stick with.  Here is what is lined up for the next few months.

Richie has had four different rounds of chemo since last February. Those treatments have held the cancer at bay, but that is all.  The new plan is for him to undergo four weeks of radiation and then straight into the bone marrow transplant procedure. Transplants are certainly more successful in cancer free patients, but we just haven’t been able to get there so the docs are hoping the radiation along with the “conditioning” that prepares him for the transplant will bring him into remission long enough to do the transplant.  The radiation combined with the transplant will keep him at Duke for about four months.  The start date is  April 14th.  During much of this four month period Richie will be in outpatient status, but will require a caregiver’s presence almost 24/7.  Nikki continues to be his favorite caregiver with the rest of us running a distant second.  That continues to keep her extremely busy and has caused her to have to close down the famous and popular Hatteras Sushi Company.  Richie has become her full time job and we appreciate beyond measure the incredible generosity of the huge circle of loving friends that continue to help financially.  The Save Richie website is still up and running and being managed by his faithful fraternity brothers from the G-Vegas (ECU) days.  Take a moment to check out www.saverichie.com when you have a chance.  Go to the various links for more info and a chance to comment in the blog sections.   Also, please feel free to forward this email about as there is no way I can keep up with the vast group of caring people that are pulling for he and Nikki.

Again, many thanks for the love and support.

D.Spears

The Transfer

Here it is. All the money we have raised so far. This money is going straight to an account for Richie and Nikki that I set up today. I literally just transferred it over.  Paypal took a little for the transaction fee but the rest goes to Richie.

Richie can now receive donations directly to this new account. It’s been great to see how the online community has come together to help raise this money. I know we aren’t done yet. It might take some time but we can keep spreading the word. Thanks everyone.

A Richie Update

Here is an update on Richie from his Dad…

Richie was scheduled to begin his bone marrow/stem cell transplant on January 28th.  However, a preliminary PET scan revealed some active cancer areas under his arms and he was promptly admitted to Duke for another (3rd) round of chemo therapy.  This was a five day in-patient regiment that really took him for a rough ride.  Just a few days after discharge he had to return to Duke and be readmitted to help manage the side effects of the chemo.  On Saturday, Feb 16th he was released to from Duke and returned on the 22nd for another PET scan.  This scan unfortunately revealed that the cancer was still active and he is back at Duke today getting yet another round of chemo.  This is a two day treatment followed by an eight day break then another two day treatment.  He will have another PET scan in late March.

Again, many, many thanks to everyone out there for their thoughts, prayers and very helpful financial contributions. 

Donation Update 1-22-08

Check it out.  This is our most recent Pay Pal account balance.  This is awesome.

Treatment Update

Here is some new information from Richie’s dad.

A few days ago he was notified that a “perfect” doner match had been located.  This was exceptionally good news.  Today Richie has an appointment at Duke to begin some preliminary set up work for the transplant.  The transplant should begin sometime in late January.  It is a 100 day procedure.  30 to 40 days in the hospital followed by 60 to 70 days as an outpatient.  During the outpatient period he will have to stay in Durham within a very few minutes from the hospital.  He will have to check in to the transplant center every morning for labs.  Meds will be administered as required and he will be released each afternoon.  The outpatient period will terminate when the transplanted cells are matured and are maintaining Richie’s blood counts at normal levels.

Donation Update and News

Today’s balance.  Slow and steady.  Let’s keep spreading the word.

Other news:

A matched doner has been located and things are looking good for the transplant procedure to start in late January.

Saying Anything

If you know Richie, then post something about him in the comments section of this post. Let’s help people who don’t know Richie, get to know him.

Update

Here is the latest update on fund raising.  Wow this is awesome.  Thanks so much to everyone that is giving.

Also,  you my notice some of the verbiage has changed on our sites.  Richie asked us to change some  of the phrasing to better represent his situation, and so of course we wanted to honor his wishes.  The bottom line is the same.  We want to help Richie beat this and raising the money will help the cause!