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Fundraiser under way to help cancer-stricken dad take family to Disneyland
Community's help sought to help pay medical bills, cost of Valentine's Day trip

by Jeb Bing

A fundraiser is under way to fly cancer patient Geoff Haskell, 35, and his family to Disneyland Sunday on a four-day trip before he undergoes an extremely intensive round of chemotherapy later this month.

Haskill, formerly the youth pastor at Centerpointe Presbyterian Church, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer that has now spread to his liver. He left his church position to begin a career in medical supply sales and was in that job less than six months when he was diagnosed with cancer. He also has been a volunteer chaplain with the Pleasanton Police Department and an assistant baseball coach at Foothill High School, where his wife Kendra is a tennis coach.

Mike Serrano, who is leading the fundraising effort, said Geoff and Kendra Haskell and their three children-- Kate, Matthew, and Emily--moved to Pleasanton five years ago. Kendra had been a teacher at Walnut Grove Elementary School until she lost her job last year.

"We thought it would be fun for us as friends of the Haskells to give the family their first trip to Disneyland, 'where dreams do come true' as a magical, fun-filled vacation before this next round of chemotherapy," Serrano said. "We are hoping to raise $4,200. The cost of the flight, hotel, transportation and passes is $3,200. The rest would go for food, fun and souvenirs."

All funds collected will go for the trip with any excess funds to be deposited into the Haskell Family Fund.

The members of Pleasanton Valley Club held a concert fundraiser with the Bell Brothers Band last summer to benefit the family and raised over $20,000 to help pay the cost of medical treatments, according to Deb Cilk of United California Brokers.

For more information about how to contribute to the Haskells, contact Mike Serrano at 915-4835.