Carnival fundraiser planned in southwest for valley resident battling cancer

At 25 years old, Overton native Meagan Brammer is fighting a battle that few people her age face.

After graduating from high school in 2004, Brammer was diagnosed with Stage 3 malignant melanoma from a mole on one of her toes. Brammer had her toe amputated, and the cancer spread to her left leg. She has since endured several surgeries in her leg and multiple chemotherapy sessions in Salt Lake City.

Last year, Brammer went to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to undergo Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte treatments and have a tumor in her pelvis removed. Since then, she has traveled to Houston and Salt Lake City multiple times, undergoing chemotherapy treatments and continuing to fight the disease.

"This is the hardest kind of treatment because it's nonstop chemotherapy," Brammer said. "In Salt Lake City, (I feel) that much farther away from home.

"I want to be able to still do things I want to do and not have my life revolve around medical stuff. I want to have fun and have a life," she added.

Brammer not only faces hardships in battling chemotherapy. The financial burden from her medical bills continues to grow. To ease this burden, Brammer's future brother-in-law, Michael Lawrence, with the help of his brother and Brammer's fiance, Joseph Touchstone, and their sister, April Laswell, planned a carnival fundraiser in her honor from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Local 1908 of the International Association of Firefighters, 6200 W. Charleston Blvd.

The fundraiser features carnival and video games, raffle drawings, a fire truck on display for children to tour and barbecue plates for donations. Those who attend are welcome to make contributions, and some people have volunteered to shave their heads to honor Brammer for donations. Volunteers and donations, including food or raffle prizes, are needed.

It won't be a pity party, though, said event coordinator and Brammer's soon-to-be sister-in-law Laswell.

It's not Brammer's style.

"She's unique in the fact that the girl goes through so much, and her spirits are never down," Laswell said. "She'll go through a week of treatments, rest a day and be back at work like nothing ever happened."

Though the fundraiser has been in the works for more than six months, Brammer didn't receive the news until the beginning of October.

"I was shocked they had been planning this but grateful," Brammer said. "It's hard for me to accept something like that but it's very humbling."

Michael Lawrence said he didn't think twice about planning the event, as he has seen Brammer's struggles and wanted to do everything he could to help her in whatever way possible. Lawrence has worked with several family members and friends and incorporated ideas from past Relay for Life events into the upcoming fundraiser for Brammer.

"For me, I want to help Meagan in her struggle," Lawrence said. "Meagan is the type of person who never complains and doesn't make excuses. If we can get $5 or $10 from a few people, it helps her out a lot."

Brammer, however, doesn't see the fundraising part of the event as the most vital aspect.

"Financially, that part isn't as important to me as the awareness is," Brammer said. "There are so many cancers out there, and they affect so many people, no matter what age. I just want people to know there's still a fight in everyone."

Brammer details her cancer journey in a personal notebook. Laswell hosts a blog to update friends and family.

For more information about Brammer's fundraising event, contact Michael Lawrence at 419-4904 or 480-7636 or visit meaganspage.com.

Contact Downtown/Paradise View reporter Lisa Carter at lcarter@viewnews.com or 383-0492 and Centennial and North Las Vegas reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@viewnews.com or 477-3839.