Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 4, 2010–As the time of gift exchanges and frantic shopping approaches, some children have more on their mind than the presents they’ll receive this holiday season. Each year, children in Northeast Florida battle pediatric leukemia and other cancers, and the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation is here to help. By hosting a holiday party for pediatric oncology patients and their families the Jay Fund provides a chance for these families to forget about the emotional and financial stress associated with illness, let their kids have fun and to offer comfort and support to one another.
The Holiday Hoedown themed party, held at WJCT Studios, will take place on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 12 noon, and will bring over 70 children and their families together for an afternoon of fun and entertainment.“Too often, a sick child’s main focus is when their next doctor’s appointment is scheduled or, worse, if they’ll survive. The Jay Fund is able to take the focus off the cancer for a short time and provide an opportunity for special memories to be made by the whole family.”
This event is just one of the ways the Jay Fund helps families. Founded by Coach Tom Coughlin and his wife, Judy, the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation also provides financial support to the families of children with leukemia and other cancers. Jay Fund grants help pay for mortgage, rent, car, water and food expenses when families are juggling hospitalization and medical expenses and struggling to make ends meet.
At the party, local media will have the chance to talk to children and their families about how the Jay Fund has helped them. The Jay Fund will compile a list of families who would be willing to be interviewed before or during the event.Although the party is not open to the public, the media will have the opportunity to conduct interviews and take photos and videos.
No one is prepared to plot a course through the world of childhood cancer; a child’s diagnosis impacts the whole family. Hearing these families compelling stories can open eyes to a world no one hopes they learn about first hand.
For more information about the holiday party or the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, visit www.tcjayfund.org or contact Keli Coughlin at [email protected] or Rita Malie at [email protected].
The mission of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund is to improve the quality of life for children with leukemia or other cancers and their families by providing emotional and financial support to reduce the stress associated with treatment. Founded by New York Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin and his wife, Judy, the Jay Fund assists families in the Jacksonville, Florida, and New York/New Jersey Metropolitan areas with basic household expenses and medical bills. Each year, it hosts parties for the children and their families and sponsors fundraisers to ensure that its mission can continue to be fulfilled. Tom Coughlin created the foundation in 1996 to honor Jay McGillis, a member of the football team at Boston College who lost his life after a courageous battle with leukemia.