A Legend Named Brent
We will never forget why the LLBF exists; it stems from one individual - Brent P. Evans! Brent was a fantastic human being with a one-of-a-kind personality and presence. He made everyone feel like a member of his family and had the unique ability to bring people together. This is his story:
The son of Kenneth and Karen Klepacki Evans, Brent grew up alongside his older brother Ryan in Wilkes-Barre, a small but proud city in northeast Pennsylvania. Brent was like most kids growing up, but was always a unique spirit. One of his closest childhood friends Dan Youngblood (now a leader at the LLBF) described him best. Dan said, 'He had a magnetic draw to him, and you wanted to be around him. It was his world, and we’re all lucky to have been a part of it.” Brent graduated from high school and went on to attend and graduate from West Virginia University - a school that became a major part of Brent’s identity.
In 2010, Brent was diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The diagnosis changed Brent's life forever, but he remained the same upbeat, funny, cheerful, electric human he always was. Brent went on to receive treatment at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. It was there when he envisioned an epic snowboarding event to raise funds to 'shred blood cancer,' which he called Carve 4 Cancer.
By 2012, Brent was in remission, and the first Carve 4 Cancer (C4C) fundraiser was underway in the Pocono Mountains. The event was a huge success, raising thousands by bringing live music, ski/snowboard competitions, and a party atmosphere to the heart of a ski resort. In the following years, Brent stayed focused and committed to helping others who were going through what he went through. He grew C4C annually and recruited dozens of volunteers and sponsors to join his vision.
Unfortunately, in 2016, Brent’s cancer came back. The news was absolutely gut-wrenching to all who knew him. Brent fought like a legend and forced his cancer into remission again. Unfortunately, he ultimately passed away due to complications with the disease in 2017 at 33 years old.
After his passing, Brent's charity took on the identity of the Live Like Brent Foundation (LLBF) and focused on directly impacting blood cancer patients in need. Today, the Live Like Brent Foundation is growing and partnering with more and more hospitals to impact as many patients as possible in memory of Brent. The LLBF has also furthered the mission through events like golf tournaments, 5Ks, and several other community-based events.
As we grow and expand, we will always remain true to Brent’s vision and try to make him proud of the organization that bears his name. Most of all, we will never forget why this all started… and that is because of a legend named Brent!"