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OGDEN — An Ogden man is dedicating part of his business to helping people cover the devastating cost that comes with fighting cancer.
It's all part of a new venture launched last week.
Miles Tolman still has another expensive surgery ahead in his own fight with cancer, but he said he couldn't just stand by. As he tries to raise the funds to pay for his own treatments, he'll be doing that for other families fighting that same battle.
"Beginning of 2020, I was getting really bad headaches — really bad migraines. I was getting really weak," Tolman said.
A visit to the emergency room brought a surprise diagnosis.
"They sat me down and they said, 'I don't know how to tell you this. It's not easy, but you have testicular cancer,'" Tolman said.
After the surgery, more tests followed.
"This is what they gave me when I left the hospital," he said, holding test results. It showed more cancer in his lymph nodes and several growths in his colon.
"Once you get cancer, you're never going to be the same," he explained. "Something inside you changes and I see the world completely differently now."
Adding to all of that, Tolman recently lost a life-long friend to the same disease.
"It really affected me, and I wanted to do more, like for my kids," he added. Tolman then considered his business — Utah Driveway Pressure Washing.
"After seeing that and seeing how many people struggle, I had to do something," he said.
With the help of another best friend, Marcus Davis, they started donating 5% of their earnings to help cancer warriors pay their bills.
"I have the time," Davis said. "I have the energy, the resources, so I was like, 'Let's do it.'"
The money is going to Ink Against Cancer,* a charity that recently helped Tolman make ends meet.
"I'm not the only one struggling, you know," Tolman said. His own battle is far from over. Medical bills will continue to pile up and he may not survive, but he said it's what he has to do.
"I was going to wait until after I beat cancer, but tomorrow is not promised," he said.
*Disclaimer: KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit or donation you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
