Let’s rally around the Winegarner family as Evan’s battle with cancer progresses. Please read below for an update on Evan’s next chapter and how you can help their family!  

Evan has had a huge impact in the Dublin, GA community as a coach, employee, church member, and friend. If you know Evan, you know he is an outgoing person who cares deeply for people and has a strong heart for the Lord! He also has a beautiful family - husband to Brittany and Dad to Brecken (6) and Blaine (10 months). 

Back in 2019, he was unexpectedly diagnosed with Internal Metastatic Stage 4 Melanoma. 

Throughout the last 5 years, he has gone through a variety of treatments – some only helping for months and others for a couple of years. Evan also underwent a brain surgery to remove a tumor in 2020 and had both hips replaced due to avascular necrosis in 2022. Thankfully, the cancer has been mostly stable for the last few years. However, there is no cure for melanoma, only the ability to maintain treatments and keep the masses stable. Most recently, he was on a clinical trial for 2.5 years before a new mass appeared in his liver. 

With the most recent news, it is recommended that he begins several new treatments lasting for the remainder of 2024. This will include rounds of medication, outpatient chemo, cell therapy transfusions, and additional care in the hospital. The hospital is working with insurance to get as much covered as possible. However, this particular treatment – TIL Therapy - is new and was just approved by the FDA in February 2024.

TIL Therapy, in summary, is when they take a portion of the newest mass through surgery, send it off to a lab where they will extract his own immune cells (T-cells) and expand them so they multiply. Then, he will undergo chemo to weaken his current immune cells, have the new cells infused over a few days, and then be monitored closely in the clinic every day for up to 60 days. He has been informed that it will be a rather tough treatment and take a toll on his body. There will be a long road of recovery afterward. 

Evan will potentially begin the process of TIL Therapy towards the end of May and it will last several months, including the long stay in Atlanta as well as a quarantine when his doctor releases him back to Dublin. Unfortunately, their children will not be able to join them and they will be separated for the majority of this treatment. 

Evan and his family are so thankful for the already 5 years that the Lord has given him since his diagnosis knowing that this type of cancer could have easily taken his life so much sooner. They are also so thankful for the community’s outpouring support thus far! But we know that they will continue to need support over the next several months. 

We are hosting this fundraiser as a kick-start to help offset the cost of what insurance is not able to cover, food during their few months in Atlanta, and other unexpected costs or needs that may arise. If you are not able to participate, we ask that you partner with us in prayer for God to prepare their hearts for this next chapter as they continue to fight as a family against this terrible disease. 

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The BBQ plate will consist of 1 BBQ sand which, chips and baked beans. Pick up is on Sunday June 2nd at Holy Smokes BBQ in Dublin from 11-6 

If you would like to make an additional donation, you may give below the ticket purchase section. Together We Can sends 100% of donations to the Winegarners.