The following is a letter from Debbie Clark, a friend of Ben Bowen's family.

"Thank you for considering Ben Bowen's story as a candidate for Charity of the Month!

Yes, there is some background information that is not on the website that is very interesting. Ben's father, Tom Bowen, assisted with the FEMA "Urban Search & Rescue", "Body Recovery", & "D-MORT" at the Trade Center after the "9-11" attacks. He was intimately involved in the recovery process and began a true impromtu ministry to his co-workers and the victim's families. From the very first body recovered to the last, his ministry was to take the time to pray for the family members of each victim. He also prayed for the ones working at "Ground Zero".

The Bowen Family

God blessed this ministry and show of compassion and the ministry grew and grew. Tom became well known to the workers and the victim's families. God's "Compassion Ministry" through Tom grew so much that Tom was recognized by the Senate of the State of New York and June 24th, 2003, was declared "Tom Bowen Day" and the American Rescue Workers presented him with their "National Distinguished Humanitarian Award" for 2003 because of his service at the Trade Center.

Tom and his family has gone through an awful lot since "9-11"...They have struggled to keep their marriage and family together because of the trauma and suffering he has experienced due to what Tom saw and experienced. Faith in God and believing in the Power of God has been the underlying factor to them still being together. Just weeks before Ben got sick Tom was offered a new job being the "National Director of Emergency Services", a newly created position. He would have been working with FEMA, Homeland Security, & many other agencies to coordinate needs and donations in response to national disasters. One week before Ben was diagnosed Tom met with the leaders of multiple agencies in Charlotte, NC. The day that Ben got sick, Tom was contacted by a producer from PAX TV asking for the opportunity to do a few shows based on Tom's story. They were impressed about how their family had stayed together through difficult times following "9-11". Obviously the job and the PAX TV offer has been put on hold and Ben's situation and wellfare has taken top priority in Tom and Jennifer's life.

My husband talked to Tom tonight and asked if there was a "wish list" or anything that they had in mind for the family. Tom shared that he believed it was God ordained that we contacted him this particular night to ask this particular question.

There is a family they have become friends with at St Judes that has a child the same age as their oldest son, Eli,...3 years old. The family's child is terminal and they qualified for "Make-A-Wish" and they just returned earlier today from Disney World where they were given the opportunity to celebrate life as a family and create memories before the loss of their child. Tom and Jennifer have the same "wish" for their own family, but they do not completely qualify for "Make-A-Wish" because at the time they would be able to make such a trip with Ben, he will only be 2 years old and "Make-A-Wish" requires that the child be at least 2 and 1/2 years old. The treatments that Ben is going through are intense and on a specific timeline. The doctors have told them that if Ben survives till October that there will be a four week break sometime between mid to late October and mid to late November. At this time they would stop the chemo and radiation treatments and allow the "counts" in Ben's little body to get to a safe higher level. Tom and Jennifer want to be able to spend two of those weeks together as a family at Disney World. They have been told that Ben's condition at this time will be "delicate", therefore their desire is to be able to "go all out" and stay close to the park in a comfortable set of rooms so that if Ben were to get sick or have problems they could go back to the room to "recuperate".

My husband and I would love to be able to be a part of bringing this "wish" to life for Tom, Jennifer, Ben and Eli. They are truly genuine, Godly, lovely people that deserve to have something "good" happen in their lives. We would appreciate anything that you and your organization can do to help this come true for the Bowens! God bless you!

Sincerely, Debbie and Darrell Clark."