Today’s Jay Fund Hero – Maegan Voss At 17 years old, most teens are thinking about the prom, SAT’s, boyfriends and girlfriends, or which college they will attend.  But this 17 year old had to learn a new acronym.  It was HLH. In the midst of experiencing her senior year of high school and dating, Maegan Voss was diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis …

Today’s Jay Fund Hero – Mark Wrightington This low-key, behind the scenes guy with a huge heart knows first-hand what it is like to watch one’s child battle childhood cancer.  Mark’s son, Harold, lost his fight against childhood cancer at age 12, on July 4, 2008. Yet, Mark keeps his son’s spirit alive by volunteering for the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund …

At 10 years old, after coming home from a field trip one day, Taylor Scheibe’s parents discovered a growth on her neck and took her to the doctor to get it checked. Then came the diagnosis: large cell lymphoma, which is a form of cancer that attacks the lymphatic system. From then on, “Tay’s” life changed forever. Thoughts of playing …

Today’s Jay Fund Hero – Rachel Kovach   Diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in January of 2011, a then 11 year old Rachel Kovach began an intense treatment regimen of chemotherapy and surgery. The road that lay ahead of her was going to be tough but surrounded by friends and family, Rachel vowed she would get back to her life of …

Today’s Jay Fund Heroes – Josh Pita Chemo in the morning – Football in the afternoon. That’s how this childhood cancer patient rolls! Nominated by Shari Gottesman, “If I may take a moment to nominate and tell you about a special young man … Josh, age 10, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in November 2010 and has been …

Today’s Jay Fund Heroes  – Aaron Pinsky and Sarah Clein This month, as we honor the countless heroes in the battle against childhood cancer, we also know that there is an army of people behind each of them, helping to propel awareness of the nightmare that is childhood cancer. It’s not just the kids facing the inexplicable of a cancer diagnosis, …

Today’s Jay Fund Hero – Addie Starks Meet Addie Starks, a girl who lost her best friend to childhood cancer, and turned that tragic loss into a passion to help families tackling the the disease.  Addie, a University of North Florida graduate who works at Bailey’s Gym, began volunteering for the Jay Fund in 2009 following the tragic loss of her high …

Today’s Jay Fund Hero – Kara Masson What she thought were just bad headaches in eighth grade turned out to be a cancerous brain tumor.  Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy kept her from school for two years. She finished middle school in a hospital home bound program, returned to school her Sophomore year, not only graduated, but she was a recipient of …

Today’s Jay Fund Hero – Chase Cameron Brauda “Any child who battles cancer is a hero. To have one’s childhood taken by chemotherapy, spinal taps, bone marrow aspirations, transfusions, mucositis, nausea, infections, bipap masks, aching bones, peeling skin, allergic reactions and to be able to maintain a humble heart makes Chase Cameron Brauda one of these heroes.  A child who …

Today’s Jay Fund Hero – Elizabeth Forte More than a year has passed since 6-year-old Elizabeth Forte completed treatment for acute lympholastic leukemia (ALL). She’s cancer free, but like so many other kids, Elizabeth has irreversible brain damage and educational difficulties, as a result of the cancer.  The long-term effects of cancer and its treatment are still unknown.  What we …