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DES MOINES, Iowa – 4th Angels for Sam Benifit Bike Ride: On Sunday, June 13th the 4th Annual Angels for Sam Bike Ride went off under rainy conditions. The benifit this year was dedicated to help in the costs of Robbie Zust Leukemia treatments. The event helped raise $8,650.00.

"Just unbelievable", it is amazing how these angels came together to help our Rob" stated Cathy, Rob's mother. "Thank You to all of our family and many friends that have supported us through this trying time".

"We cannot thank everyone enough. It was an emotional evening when we received the donations. You are all amazing people".

Every day somewhere in your neighborhood, your school, your community or your state, life goes on in a normal fashion while others only have the hope that life will somehow get back to normal for them as they fight for their life because of health issues. It is difficult to be able to reach out and help everybody in their fight but through some we hope that this message can help many.

If you are a softball fan in central Iowa or for that fact in Iowa period you may recognize the name Amanda Zust. Zust was an all-state player at Des Moines East and currently is having a great season in the circle at the University of Iowa. While Amanda and her family are enjoying her successes, earlier this year one of life’s lessons set them back as her brother Robbie was diagnosed with Leukemia in January. Robbie graduated from Southeast Polk High School in Runnells in 2008 and is currently attending the University of Iowa with his sister.

Robbie was getting set to make a plasma donation when he was diagnosed and immediately admitted to the hospital for chemotherapy treatment. Eventually he will require a bone marrow transplant that his sister Amanda will be the bone marrow donor.

Through any fight for life, costs incur that can set any family back but as we have found here in Iowa, we are all together and willing to lend a helping hand when one of our neighbors are in need. It may not be Robbie that you may help but because of his story or through him you may find it in your heart to help another young man or women in need so that they may have an opportunity to live a life that we come to take for granted until it hits closer to home.

On Sunday, June 13th at 10 a.m. in front of the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines at the Maingate Lounge located at 2956 E. Grand Ave. “Angels for Sam” which was formed in 2007 when 17 year old Samantha Mills was diagnosed with the same disease will continue the tradition of helping families with their 4^th Annual Angels for Sam Benefit Motorcycle Ride.

The ride will start at 10 and will finish at the Norwood Inn located at 3592 N.E. 29^th St. in Des Moines. There will be a free will offering and for those non-riders there will be buses available for the ride. All the money for this event will be donated to the Zust family to be used for medical expenses.

Joel and Cathy Zust, the parents of Robbie and his sisters Sarah and Amanda greatly appreciate your prayers and support.

For information or questions E-Mail angelsforsam@aol.com or call Linda Frazier @ 515-238-3072

Check out the Senior Day story by KWWL in Waterloo

www.kwwl.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp

April 16^th: Robbie was admitted and had a pic line put in again and is back on his I.V. He will start chemotherapy at noon which will run for 10 hours at a time for three days. On Monday Robbie will start on radiation twice a day for 20 minutes for five days. On Monday Amanda will be set to start her process as the bone marrow donator.

Over the weekend of April 17-18: Some side effects with the chemo but things are going pretty well. Amanda received her first set of shots for the transplant. Both are a great support for each other.

Tuesday, April 20th: Day two of radiation went well while sister Amanda is on day three of her injections. More intense radiation tomorrow.

Thursday, April 22nd: Day three of radiation for Robbie. Two more rounds of Thursday and Friday before the transplant. Amanda recieved her final shot before the transplant while she continues with classes and softball practive. The donor process begins on Friday for Amanda.

Over the Weekend of April 24-25: Robiie is tired and sore, can hardly swallow so not meds are through I.V. He will begin getting blood and platelets over the next couple of days.

Week of April 26-30: Friday marked the sixth day of the transplant process. Robbie is tough but side effects from chemo have showed up with blisters on his hands and feet. Injections are to begin to build his white count.

Over the Weekend of May 1-2: Fever on Sunday morning of 104 but with Tylenol and ice packs helped to get it down to 99 by the evening. It has been a tough weekend and still waitng for the white count to go up. Family thanks everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

Week of May 3-7: Fever has broke but Robbie may have bacteria pnemonia. On antibiotics and hopes are now that he may be able to go home some time next week. Blood pressure is down now and looking ahead for him tocome home he will need to be able to eat, take meds orally and be ableto walk more. Overall, things are falling into place.

Over the Weekend of May 7-8: Things are slowly getting better hut appetite still needs to improve. Taking medication orally and the plan is to hopefully be able to go home on Tuesday.

Week of May 9-14: With still a long road ahead in the transpant process, Robbie gets to go home on Tuesday. Robbie is now home as of Wednesday and his blood count was good upon release from the hospital. He will have to go back on Friday for counts and blood work.

Over the Weekend of May 15-16: Check up at Iowa City went pretty good and Robbie was able to walk out to the pitching circle with his sister Amanda on Senior Day for University of Iowa softball team, a well shred moment. He is eating good and so far everything looks to be moving forward espite a blood clot where his pic line was at but is on medication to clear that out.

Week of May 17-23: Things are going well at home. His latest doctors visit found his counts are holding there own. Monday the 24th Robbie will be back in Iowa City for his regular doctors visit.

Week of May 24-31: After a temp that needed attention, things settled down and Rob is doing pretty good. Progress is slow but there is progress. The family wants to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and support.

Week of June 1-6: Robbie is looking forward to the ride and hopes to see everyone there and be able to thank everyone for all the support. His trip to Iowa was great as his counts were way up. Robbie is looking to rent a motorcycle for the ride with his father. The family would again like to thank everybody for all the help and support and look forward to seeing everyone at the ride on Saturday.

I appreciate the story published about the young man Robbie Zust. It's so heart warming to be able to share Robbie's story with others in mind. Thank you so much Tony! Tina McAninch