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They say laughter is the best medicine. Lisa Slade is putting that old adage to the test in an improvisational comedy fundraiser for Ben Diffenderfer, a 7-year-old Sunnyvale resident who is battling a rare form of cancer.
Ben was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma in January. Burkitt's is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer in the lymphatic system. He received a bone marrow harvest in April, but relapsed shortly after. The Diffenderfer family is now considering other options.
While the family awaits a cure, Slade says Ben receives two blood transfusions a day to survive.
"All they have left are prayers," Slade says.
Ben's mother, Christine Falsetti, approached Slade about organizing a fundraiser for her son. Slade jumped at the chance to help out her friend and spotlight a little-known disease.
"It's a big honor when someone asks you to be in charge of a fundraiser for something that is so close to the heart," Slade says.
The cause may be serious, but the event will be anything but.
Titled "Parental Guidance Advised," the comedy show will feature local acts like Michael Kameron, Donald Lett, Maddi Pasc and Celeste Coit. Slade located the comedians by putting an ad on Craigslist. She has used the Internet listing service for previous fundraisers and says it has been successful for her.
"I thought people would help, but the number of people surprised me," Slade says.
"They want to help other people," she says. "The problem with volunteers here is the events fill up too quickly."
Slade says all the money "Parental Guidance Advised" raises will go to the Diffenderfer family.
"The burden of expenses is enormous," she says.
Slade's passion for philanthropy began two years ago after her friend's 7-month-old daughter, Brynn Marie Davis, died of sudden infant death syndrome. She saw the financial devastation Brynn's parents, Melanie and Steve Davis, suffered and wanted to help prevent other parents from experiencing a similar loss.
Slade then turned to organizing fundraisers as a way to raise money for charitable causes. She says it's been surprisingly easy to find venue owners willing to lease space for an evening and performers willing to volunteer their time and talent.
"You can never get depressed about people doing this kind of work," she says.
"Parental Guidance Advised" will take place on July 8 at 8 p.m. at Club 358, 358 N. White Road, San Jose. For more information, visit www.showit.org.
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Photograph courtesy of Christine Falsetti