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$25,000 GIFT FOR FAMILIES TO HONOR CMC CANCER PATIENT

The Bradley W. Jackson Foundation of Bluefield, Va., has made a $25,000 pledge to the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at the University of Virginia's Children's Medical Center (CMC). The funding was made in honor of 19-year-old Brad Jackson who lost his life to a cancerous brain tumor in 1996. The money will be used to provide direct financial aid to families whose finances become strained due to caring for a child with cancer.

To honor Brad's memory, his family established the Bradley W. Jackson Foundation in 1996. The mission reflects its namesake's compassion, commitment to community and desire to assist other cancer patients.

According to his mother, Mary Jane Jackson, the idea for the gift came from her family's experience during Brad's cancer treatment. While my son was being treated at the CMC, it became necessary for us to spend days, weeks or even months away from home. The expenses mount – often without you realizing it – and create unnecessary stress, she said.

While her family was able to absorb the expenses associated with long-distance care, Jackson realized that other families might find it difficult to manage the financial burden. A guideline committee will manage the fund and assist qualified families whose children receive care at U.Va. with such basic needs as gas for travel, food, lodging, medicine and medical supplies and telephone bills.

I believe that, with this fund, many less fortunate families can be relieved of stress created by a financial burden and be able to focus on what's really important – their child's healing, Jackson said.

For more information on the Bradley W. Jackson Foundation, please call (540) 326-2246.

January 27, 2000