“It’s hard for me to ask for help. It just opened my eyes even more to how people are helpful. It’s greatly appreciated.” – Michael Knecht, recipient
Pay It Forward
Dec 03, 2017
Kindness for the Knechts
Michael Knecht was diagnosed with cancer and found out his daughter has type 1 diabetes all in the same year. When Bell employees found out, they stepped in to help.
Bell Employees
Rhonda Aure, document imaging specialist, Fargo
Recipient
Michael Knecht and family
The Need
Michael Knecht was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, in February and went through 6 months of chemotherapy.
Two months later, he found out his daughter Evanthea has type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease where the pancreas stops producing the necessary levels of insulin.
“It’s been a rough road for both of us,” he remarks. “It’s been a rough road for the whole family.”
The Impact
When Angie Heiden heard about the family’s struggles, she immediately wanted to help, but she had already donated her Pay It Forward funds. She asked a friend of the Knecht family to submit a request to Bell for Pay It Forward donations on the family’s behalf.
Several employees pooled their funds to offer a little kindness to the Knechts.
“They were doing everything possible to make ends meet and pay their bills,” Rhonda Aure comments. “They just get kicked again with something else and kicked again with something else.”
Next year, Angie plans to donate some of her funds to send Evanthea to Camp Sioux, a camp for kids with diabetes.