Justin Ponsor details how Hero helps him fight cancer

Let me be blunt: Without Hero Initiative, I’d be in enormous financial trouble, possibly financial ruin. However, with their support and outreach, I’ve been able to rest, recover, and heal to the best of my ability.

Cancer is an expensive disease to fight, even with good insurance. I still have to spend thousands in medical bills each year, and as a comic freelancer, I don’t have paid time off. Each week away from work is a week away from income. According to my latest 1099, I’m making approximately 1/3 as much money as my previous average year before getting sick. Cutting expenses isn’t enough to get by when my monthly income is so wildly unpredictable.

Enter Hero Initiative. They’re a friendly voice checking in to see how I’m doing and have provided assistance to smooth over the roughest of times. I can’t overstate how much a difference I felt after restless, anxious nights spent stressing about making ends meet. To experience the relief of finding an answer to my situation and the peace of mind it enables is priceless in my road to recovery. My mental (and possibly physical) health—not to mention my financial stability—owe a great deal to the support I’ve received from this wonderful organization.

–Justin Ponsor