Bellevue resident Laura Jones doesn’t consider herself a close friend of the Magnotti family. But she did spend much of her adolescence as a classmate to Nick Magnotti – first at Tillicum Middle School, and later, as a student at Sammamish High School. So when Jones heard – through mutual friends – that Nick was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer two years ago, she wanted to help. This Saturday, Jones is doing just that – by holding a fundraiser at Impact Strength and Performance in Bellevue.
The event, which is part of the gym’s weekly “Go-Giver Bootcamp” series, is being offered for a suggested donation of $10; all proceeds from the hour-long workout will be donated to the Magnotti family.
Jones started following Nick’s battle with cancer after hearing about TeamMagnotti.org, a website updated by Nick’s wife Alyssa, which also serves as a platform for friends and family to donate funds. At press time, $14,630 has been donated there.
That’s where Jones learned that Nick’s cancer, Mucinous Adenocarcinoma, originated in his appendix and then spread throughout his abdominal cavity. In November, Nick was able to undergo aggressive treatment and had a lengthy heated chemotherapy surgery with an oncology specialist in Omaha, Nebraska. Following the treatment, the doctors were optimistic about the procedure and had a terrific prognosis for Nick’s future.
But in August of last year, shortly after Nick and Alyssa learned they were expecting their first child, the cancer returned. Categorized as Stage IV and extremely aggressive, the spread of cancer cells was far and wide within Nick’s abdomen, crowding his intestines, his spleen and his liver and causing a lot of pain and damage.
The bad news, paired with the impending medical expenses, could have promised dark times for the Magnottis. Yet, through it all, they’ve remained optimistic.
In a blog entry titled “Cancer is Back… And We’re Gonna Kick it…. AGAIN!!!” Nick wrote:
“…Please don’t let this make you feel sad, because it doesn’t make me feel sad for even one second. The way I look at it is its just another challenge. Nothing about this is supposed to be easy. I still plan to take this cancer head on.”
Another testament to Nick’s unwavering positivity comes from someone who has known him his entire life: his twin sister, Michelle.
“He’s just such an incredible person,” Michelle said. “And he’s always got a smile on his face.”
Michelle said seeing how her brother continues to attack his cancer with such faith and positivity is the most inspiring thing she’s ever seen.
The posts on the blog aren’t about struggle and pain. Rather, they’re about the birth of Nick and Alyssa’s daughter, the joys of spending time together and the gift of living each new day.
Jones said it was this optimism – this tradition of always looking on the bright side that inspired her to put together this event for her old friend.
“I’m just super excited to do something for Nick and his family,” she said. “His medical expenses are absolutely huge; I’m just looking forward to helping them.”
Michelle, who learned about Jones’ plan two weeks ago, will be at the event on Saturday. She said she’s most excited to see familiar faces from high school who’ve already told her they’ll be there to support her brother.
“It’s things like this, where people take charge and just do it, that – at least to me – mean so much to our family.”
While there is no age restrictions for Saturday’s event, anyone under 18 will need a parent or guardian to sign a waiver (available at the front desk). The class starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, at Impact Strength and Performance, 1508 128th Pl NE, Bellevue.
