The Phoenix Projekt has been a close friend of ours to the point where we consider them family. We've done a ton of shows with them and we seem to work together and resonate really well. I remember one particular show was at Xara this year. We brought down the various bits of the PP stage and had a time of getting it put together. I remember 1 individual who never stopped working. Never complained. Seemed absolutely commited to making it work. He was tireless. The guy's name is Lou. Lou's in a bit of a bind right now and just as he surely has and would give to us, it's in our power to step in and help out our family. Below is information forwarded from Josh Belson ( another PP Firedancer ) on how we can help. Help in anyway you can from the material to the spiritual. Send healing thoughts and prayers...

Leave no ninja behind...

From: josh belson
> Date: July 26, 2006 11:52:09 AM PDT
> To: Josh Belson
> Subject: Help is needed
>
> My dear friend, Lou Genise, a fellow fire performer
> and artisen who appears in this video with me
> http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nd_gvR06j6s
> has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, had
> 70% of his colon removed, and was just informed that
> it has spread throughout his lymph nodes. The
> prognosis from his doctors was grim, and involves
> constant chemotherapy.
>
> Now being that Lou is an artist, that means that he
> doesn't have a health plan, 401k, or any stock options
> to cash in. What he does have is tremendous spirit.
> You can find out more about lou at
> http://helplou.com/main.html
>
> Lou is not the type of person to solicit donations or
> ask for help. He is the type of person who would
> rather take it on himself. Unfortunately, he has been
> laid up for the last 3 weeks with a huge scar running
> down his stomach from the operation, and unable to
> move freely yet. That is why me and a couple of
> friends have set up http://helplou.com/main.html
> He cant go to work which means he cant make money to
> pay rent, his water and power bills, or buy groceries.
>
> Now the help he needs comes in many forms. Financial,
> emotional, and medical.
> If you can make a financial donation, any amount would
> greatly help. $1, $5, $10 or anything would really add
> up and ease the cost of perscription drugs. there is
> a paypal button at the top and bottom of
> http://helplou.com/main.html
> If you cant contribute financially, that is okay. He
> still needs your good will and your good cheer. Maybe
> you know someone that is a healer or is good with
> coping with pain, he can definately use those
> services. Maybe send a fruit basket or maybe you have
> a bunch of DVD's you can donate? We're thinking
> comedies would really lighten his spirit.
>
> But the thing that would help Lou the most is for him
> to work. To keep him busy and to make him feel
> functional. The hardest part for Lou is the sitting
> and not doing anything. He'd much rather do something
> to earn some money than sit on the couch. He is a
> skilled craftsman and jewlery maker. He is also very
> skilled in making leather goods and metalworks. But
> anything that you can think of that doesn't involve
> heavy labor would be worth a shot.
> So please check out http://helplou.com/main.html
>
> And thank you for your time in reading this. If you
> want, pass this along to someone you think might be
> able to help also. We're just here trying to help out
> a friend who we know would do the same for us.
>
> Thank you again,
>
> Josh
>
> donations can also be sent to
>
> Lou Genise
> 828 laveta terrace
> Los angeles, ca 90026
>
>
> "This one gang kept wanting me to join because I'm pretty good with a
> bo staff."
> Napoleon Dynamite