Dear friends, family, neighbors and everyone who has had my father, Jeff Winder, be a part of their life. 

The Current Situation

Dear friends, family, neighbors and everyone who has had my father, Jeff Winder, be a part of their life. 

Recently, we learned that Jeff has Stage 4 prostate Cancer. just a few weeks ago he sought medical attention for a lump near his shoulder, right next the collar bone. In a span of less than 7 days, Jeff went from getting a routine check up to having to consider the very real possibility of cancer. Blood tests, came back indicative of prostate cancer. In follow up appointments, a PET scan confirmed the cancer has metastasized extensively (spread to bones) as well as developed in his Lymphatic system. This is, of course, intense news. If you know my Dad, you already know he is handling this development bravely, with a strong spirit, sense of humor and open heart, but I need to be clear: This is a serious diagnosis of late stage, multi-system cancer. 

   Stage 4 prostate cancer is widely considered incurable. However, it can be managed with through radiation, hormone therapy and chemotherapy. The last couple weeks the family have been having some very upfront conversations about the road forward. Jeff is not one to give into doom and gloom, nor is he one swallow whole proclamations from specialists. He wants people to know he will explore a variety methods at his disposal. This going to be a long haul and it calls for some big changes in how day to day life will play out, changes we cannot afford at the moment. So I'm reaching out to all of the people, across such a wide range of communities who have had Jeff stand as a pillar, to help us on the path ahead. To quote my favorite Jeff-ism (There are many such nuggets of wisdom)

“There ain't nothin' to it but to do it”

Working Together

Friends of Jeff, Come Together!

  Maybe he built your deck. Maybe you got arrested together. Maybe you know him as the amphibious disc jockey, host of Brother Bullfrog's Traveling Salvation Show (Thursdays 7 to 9). There are few people who I know as widely appreciated as my father, Jeff Winder. Everywhere people know Jeff. Weather it be from community organizing, job sites, Shannon Farm, Wayside, Ingress (there's a throwback), Catholic Worker, Nelson County, Minneapolis, and beyond. If any of those references made no sense to you, it's because most people probably aren't aware of all the small corners of life Jeff has and continues to leave an impact. I include myself in that, I get surprised all the time. 

  I know for a fact there are countless of us who instantly went to him when we knew we couldn't call anyone else. When people needed a place to stay, when they felt unsafe, when the sky fell, they would call Jeff. I watched it my entire life. Jeff wouldn't ask anyone to return the favor. I'm almost 90% he will object to that choice of words from me. He does not see relationships as a transaction, and thank God for that because some of us would be in debt. Right now I think would be the perfect time to help what goes around come back around, because it coming back around isn't a passive thing, it depends on people passing on the goodness they received. So let's do it. Now, I'll briefly get into what we are working with. 

Moving Forward

“Droppin' the Hammer and grindin' the gears” 

- another Jeff-ism, often paired with Jeff-ism mentioned above.

  Right now, Jeff is juggling work as a building contractor, a rapidly changing medical situation and prospect of beginning some exhausting treatments. I have been with him all week watching this unfold. The nature of his job is physically demanding, and the future of its viability is completely up in the air as of now. 

  After he finishes up the two building jobs he's in the midst of, he will be undergoing the next stage of treatment. 

We are asking help in raising funds to cover living expenses and to kick start the transition into the next phase of Jeff's life. We know that there will be a prolonged time period where work will interfere with the healing process. 

  We don't know what the next year will have in store or what the new normal will look like going forward. What we want is to give Jeff the time and space to focus on healing and have one less thing pulling at his attention.  

  So me, my family and others near and dear to Jeff are reaching out to ask for help. Let's show up for our dear friend, advocate and brother.

There ain't nothin to it, but to do it.