Cancer claims lives with no regard for the calendar.? For families coping with cancer, the holidays can be a particularly difficult time. But a local woman has made it her mission in life to ease their burden.
Mary Jenkins eagerly joined the throng of last minute shoppers Friday. With a couple of helpers she checked her lists and pushed her cart up and down the toy aisles at Walmart. She was not shopping for her own family. She was shopping for the children of families who are dealing with cancer.
Jenkins runs a nonprofit called Christians Overcoming Cancer. She is a breast cancer survivor herself. In addition to the Christmas gifts, her organization provides financial assistance for families during cancer treatment.
"We help with house notes and car notes and if the car breaks down while in treatment, then we will actually pay to get the car fixed,? said Jenkins. ?We pay the water bills, gas bills, you name it bills, we have done that."
Among those Jenkins was shopping for Friday were the four children of Teresa and Wally Burris. Teresa was first diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in August of 2010. By May, after an aggressive course of treatment, she appeared to be cancer free. But a few months later, the cancer had returned. Thursday, Teresa died.
Over the past few months, Wally Burris says he found himself facing tough financial choices. "When you have to make choices of paying the electric bill or house payment or things like that or getting those things to keep her comfortable, the things she needs, then those obviously come first," said Burris.
Burris says he's never met Mary Jenkins face to face?but he is truly grateful for her help.? Most recently, Christians Overcoming Cancer helped Burris with the house payment.
"It kind of takes the stress off you when the only thing you're thinking about is my wife going to be here next Friday," said Burris
Wally Burris is a security supervisor at Mount Carmel West Hospital and a police officer in Obetz. A nonprofit organization, Get Behind The Badge, is planning a fundraiser for Burris and his family on January 8th.?
For additional information about the fundraiser, visit www.getbehindthebadge.org,
More information on this story can be found at:
www.christiansovercomingcancer.com and www.facebook.com/TeresasTeam
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Source: http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2011/dec/23/holiday-help-families-coping-cancer-ar-873348/
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