Finding Strength for the Fight Ahead
Fred Hammond has never been a stranger to hard roads.
At the age of 64, Fred is father to three and grandfather to nine. An only child born in Brooklyn, New York, and he describes his childhood as growing up in “the real hood.” As a kid, Fred battled asthma so severe he spent months at a time in the hospital. His mother kept him under a doctor’s care as much as she could, even when money was tight.
Sometimes we take journeys in our lives. Fred’s journey included time in federal prison, and when he came home six years ago, he made a decision to turn his life around and stay away from the patterns that once controlled him. Then came another fight: non-small cell lung cancer.
Fred’s diagnosis did not begin with a routine doctor’s visit. Like many people, he had habits that were hard to relinquish, including avoiding doctors and putting off follow-up care. Two heart attacks later, and avoiding a stent, the many tests conducted had identified a mass on his lung and possibly one on his kidney. When he got the call, he knew it was serious. “You gotta be prepared, aware, and situated,” he said. “I knew something else was going on.”
After his diagnosis, Fred said the biggest challenge was mental. “Where do I go from here?” he remembers thinking. Financial stress quickly followed, and he was candid about how dangerous that pressure can feel when you are working hard to stay on a better path.
That’s when he was referred to Vickie’s Angel Foundation.
“Vickie’s Angels stepped right in after they had their meeting,” Fred shared. “With their help and their kindness, they decided to help me, and they have helped me tremendously.” That support has allowed Fred to begin rebuilding, easing stress at a time when he still has treatment and surgery ahead.
Just as meaningful as the assistance, was the connection. After speaking with founder Mickey Minnich, Fred recently visited Vickie’s Angel Foundation in person. “It was fabulous,” he said. “I had a great time talking to Mickey and the rest of the staff.” Fred describes the Foundation as a true source of encouragement, saying their support and acceptance strengthened his determination to keep fighting.
Today, Fred is focused on staying dedicated to his healing, leaning on faith and family, especially his grandchildren. And because Vickie’s Angel Foundation helped him when he needed it most, he is determined to give back and help others facing cancer find that same sense of support and hope.
“Through the strength of God and family, and especially my grandchildren, I’m here to fight,” he said. “I continue to fight for others that deal with this awful disease called cancer.” He believes he has defeated everything else he has faced.
“This is my next defeat,” he said.
Vickie’s Angel Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing a temporary financial bridge to help families battling cancer. We provide financial support for essential, non-medical needs such as rent, mortgage payment, utilities, transportation, and food. The foundation operates in an effort to remove the toxic stress of unpaid bills so the individual and their family can focus on their health. Through community-driven fundraising events, corporate partnerships, and generous individual donations, Vickie’s Angel Foundation ensures that 100% of donations directly support families in need. Guided by the values of love, faith, and hope, the foundation has touched thousands of lives by offering not only financial relief but also compassion and encouragement during some of life’s most difficult moments.
In order to give 100% to those in need, we are supported by Guardian Angels.
For many years, Charity Navigator has consistently rated us a four-star charity. As the foremost nonprofit evaluator globally, Charity Navigator has scrutinized close to 200,000 charities, evaluating their financial stability, commitment to best practices, as well as their accountability, transparency, and impact. Check out our profile here.