“Every person can make a difference”

When his brother Chuck was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, Gary Martin Hays and his family heard the words everyone of us dreads, “I'm sorry,” the doctors said. “There's nothing more we can do.”

But Gary and his family absolutely refused to believe it. They hit the Web and starting researching new treatments and clinical trials. They sent copies of Chuck’s medical records to physicians and treatment centers across the country and began to aggressively network with other cancer patients. They sought the help of Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner when they hit roadblocks.

In the end, Gary believes, their efforts made a real difference. Chuck lived seven years after his grim diagnosis; he lost his fight against colorectal cancer in 2007.

It is his belief in being proactive, preventive and aggressive when it comes to fighting cancer that led Hays to start the I Will Make A Difference Foundation. Launched in 2006, the foundation’s goals are to raise awareness, involvement and funds for a variety of important causes – including the American Cancer Society and Gwinnett’s Relay For Life. The Foundation is sponsored by the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays, which has helped more than 23,500 clients throughout Georgia and the Southeast since 1993.

The concept of the foundation is summarized by a quote from John F. Kennedy: “One person can make a difference, and every person must try.” Adds Hays, “We want to empower individuals by showing them the strengths they already possess.”

“Before Chuck was diagnosed, I'd been financially supportive of many causes, but like so many of us, I really thought this wouldn’t happen to me. But chances are, it can happen to one of us or to someone we love. So now's the time to be proactive with our health and take every preventative and precautionary measure that we can,” Hays advises.

“We can’t sit on our butts and wait for someone else to raise the money,” he urges. “We can make a difference in our own lives.” Getting appropriate cancer screenings, like a mammogram or colonoscopy, is vital.

In just a few short years, the I Will Make A Difference Foundation has already made a big impact in the causes it supports. The foundation started and sponsors the Kids’ Walk at the Gwinnett Relay For Life, for children who’ve been affected by cancer and their friends.

Involving children in the community is dear to Hays’ heart. “We can’t leave our kids at home while we volunteer. If we can get our kids involved early in giving back to the community, they are likely to stay involved as adults,” asserts Hays.

“Take every moment to be with your family,” he adds. “You never know what will happen.”

For more information on how you can join Gary and make a difference, visit www.KidsCanMakeADifferenceToo.com

About Gary Martin Hays & Associates P.C.

The Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates P.C. has helped over 23,500 clients in Georgia and throughout the Southeast since 1993. Their focus is on claims involving motor vehicle accidents, dangerous products, injuries and wrongful deaths, workers compensation, and nursing home abuse.

The law firm also gives back to the community by sponsoring public service announcements; promoting safety through Hays’ newest foundation KeepGeorgiaSafe.org; raising money for charities; awarding college scholarships to deserving students; and sponsoring numerous youth sports teams. www.garymartinhays.com