About Primate Aflame

Primate Aflame Charities, Inc.

A Memorial Foundation Raising FUNds!

Mission Statement

Primate Aflame Charities, Inc. strives to keep the memory alive of a young man who passed away too soon from a blood cancer.  The goal is to raise some fun while raising funds for local programs that are in need of a financial boost as well as educational scholarships. 

The first recipient from Primate Aflame Charities, Inc. was the Cope Middle School Music Boosters.

The story of Primate Aflame

It all begins with Chris Long….

Christopher was born August 19, 1985 in Redlands, California. He had a unique first birthday by celebrating it in Ghana, West Africa.  Chris and his mother, Julie, were living there for a short period of time. Upon return to the States, they settled back home in Redlands. Chris grew up and graduated high school in Redlands. He temporarily attended Collins College in Tempe, AZ to follow his passion in the media arts. Chris loved music, photography and movies and his dream was to start his own production company.  At the age of 22, he was just beginning to come into his own. He was learning the trade of carpentry to help subsidize his dream and had gone back to school at Crafton Hills Community College in Yucaipa, CA.

Chris came down with some flu like symptoms as his parents, Stan and Julie Waite, were leaving for a two week dream-vacation to Scotland. These symptoms didn’t raise any flags as Chris was as otherwise healthy young man. He did notice some bruising, but he had attributed them to his recent enrollment in a weight lifting class. While his parents were away, Chris became so sick his sister, Rhiannon, insisted he go to the hospital.  Rhiannon called them a few hours later to let them know that he was at the hospital and the doctors were telling them that he had Leukemia. Their first reaction was disbelief. A few hours later Julie and Stan got a call from the hospital recommending they come home immediately. Of course they got the first flight they could. Just after the flight was booked, another call came in from the emergency room physician. He told them he felt Chris had had Leukemia for a few weeks if not months and his body was fighting it until it could not fight any longer. The white blood cells were multiplying so quickly that his heart could not keep up. The ER doctors fought hard for Chris but were unable to save him.  He passed away 10 hours after being diagnosed.

To honor Chris’ memory, his parents, sister, family and friends created a team for the Light the Night Walk to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The team name is Primate Aflame, the name Chris had chosen for his production company. 

Primate Aflame Charities, Inc. has now been born and will raise funds for annual educational scholarships, help local programs that support media arts, which include, but are not limited to; music, film, photography and production, as well as continuing to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Even though Chris and his family were not able to utilize the resources of the LLS, they gladly help raise funds for such a worthy cause so that others can.