Family and Fins Market & Grill Cancer Charity Battle for 'Big Dog'

Chris "Big Dog" Turner is described by friends and family as a big man with an even bigger heart. And now he faces what could be described as one of the largest challenges of his life.

On July 5, Turner was admitted to the hospital suffering from severe pain in his side. As it turned out Turner was suffering from stage-four esophageal cancer with a metastasis in the liver.

Turner, a self-employed construction contractor running his own Rocklin business, has since been forced to take an indefinite leave of absence, said sister Lauren Edvalson. With no veritable income, the bills have started to pile up, Edvalson explained.

As a result, friends and family are taking to the social networks in an effort to alleviate some of that financial burden through a charity fundraiser event created on Facebook, with the help of locally-owned business .

The event, "Battle for Big Dog Fundraiser", will be hosted at Fins in Fair Oaks as well as the business's Roseville and Arden/Arcade locations. Owners Ed and Darcie Jayousi have been long-time friends of Turner's. Edvalson explained it was Turner who helped develop the original Fair Oaks Fins location and has continued to offer his services throughout the years.

"Chris has been a long time friend, customer and business associate," Darcie siad. "Friends help friends, and especially in this economy, we all need to do what we can to support each other in times of true need. We are happy to help, and hope that the event is a success in raising much needed money for Chris."

Edvalson explained Turner's prognosis is cautiously optimistic, but being a small business owner having to halt business altogether, the family worries how the financial burder won't someday fall to Turner's only daughter.

"We know that it's pretty advanced, we just don't know what kind of time frame we're working with," Edvalson said. "In the meantime, he's just so upside down in his assets, we're worried he's not going to have anything to leave for his daughter."

Other participating Fins’ Locations:

• 8525 Madison Ave: (Corner of Madison Ave. and Kenneth Ave.)
• 2610 Fair Oaks Blvd.: (Corner of Munroe St. and Fair Oaks Blvd.)
• 8680 Sierra College Blvd.: (Corner of Sierra College Blvd. & Douglas Blvd.)

Raffle tickets will be sold for $5 per ticket at each location (cash or check only). Checks can be made out to Chris Turner. Prizes include, a $50 Fins gift card, River Cats tickets, State Fair tickets and more. Raffle winners will be contacted by phone on July 20th.

Edvalson said for those interested in making a donation but are unable to attend the event can e-mail battleforbigdog@gmail.com or visit www.battleforbigdog.com for more information.

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