Rich Marriott has always been an active

guy, going on backcountry skiing trips in winter and working

construction in the summer.

These days he stays as active as

possible, but it’s difficult when his body is fighting a rare blood

cancer that requires continuous blood transfusions and treatments.

It has been difficult for him to work his job at Knife River

leaving him and his wife, Lindy, to pay extra for their health

insurance.

Moving to the Flathead Valley in 1976,

the couple opened the Whitefish Nordic Ski Center a few years

later, guiding skiing and camping trips. The couple owned Marriott

Concrete Inc. doing curb and gutter work around the valley. He

served on the state School Land Trust board.

Marriott has Waldenstrom’s

macroglobulinemia, a slow-growing cancer that impacts the immune

system. Doctors discovered the cancer after Marriott became

severely ill while recovering from hip replacement surgery. He

began chemotherapy treatments last year and eventually underwent a

bone marrow transplant at a Utah hospital.

Marriott continues with treatments and

blood transfusions to keep the cancer at bay, but has begun a new

battle. The Marriott’s insurance company has declined coverage for

the ongoing therapy needed for his treatment.

They are in their second appeal, but

the bills are now more than $100,000.

“The bills are just mounting,” Lindy

said. “It’s like the rug has been pulled out from under us. It’s

caused a lot of stress.”

“They’ll pay if you have the right type

of cancer,” Rich said. “But you can’t pick your cancer. If it’s

rare or the treatment is experimental, they won’t pay.”

The couple was already financially

stretched when they received the denial notice from the insurance

company after paying to live in Utah for a few months when Rich

underwent the bone marrow transplant. Now, they’re grateful to

friends and neighbors who have helped.

“Our neighbors stacked wood and plowed

for us,” Lindy said. “They have come through for us. Now they’re

holding a chili feed. It’s pretty cool.”

The Corporate Angel Network continues

to provide the couple with free air travel as Rich travels to Utah

for check ups.

“We want them to know we appreciate

it,” added Rich.

A chili feed and auction fundraiser for

the Marriotts is Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Moose Lodge in Whitefish.

The event begins at 5 p.m. with a selection of gourmet chili,

salads and desserts, a cash bar, and lively music by The Bad Larrys

and The Maw Brothers. There will be a $10 cover charge at the

door.

A cash raffle will take place alongside

live and silent auctions. The live auction by Gardner Auction

includes an amazing antique Colt pistol, vacations to Hawaii, fine

art, tools, sporting goods and more. Silent auction tables will be

rotating throughout the evening with hundreds of other offerings

from the community.

For more information see the Facebook

page “Benefit Fundraiser for Rich Marriott” or call Lael Gray at

837-2913 or Karol Conrad at 862-9708. If you are unable to attend

but would like to help donations can be made to the Rich Marriott

Benefit Fund at Parkside Credit Union in Whitefish.