Jeff McAfee has seen the worst life has to offer. He and his wife, Misty, lost their daughter Joanna to cancer. Joanna was only three and half years old when she was diagnosed with Stage IV Alveolar Rhabdomyocarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. She left this life for another one on December 22, 2005 at age six.
But the McAfees are the kind of people that can turn their personal pain into hope for others. They formed the Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation. And while the Foundation is small, through the contributions of hundreds in the Warner Robins area and elsewhere, it has been able to help some 19 families and children in less than 2 years. It might be $50 for gas or $100 for food or a weekend break from the stress of it all, but all of it donated with the love that Joanna inspired during her all to brief life.
UGA Coach Mark Richt is lending his support to the Foundation.
Jeff has plans that will hopefully increase the funds the Foundation is able to use to benefit children and even promote research into childhood cancer. That plan involves you and your car tag. With the help of his local representative, the Georgia General Assembly has approved the “Joanna Tag.” Maybe you never bought a specialty tag as an alumni of UGA or another school. Maybe you haven’t really thought about it, but the “Joanna Tag” offers you an opportunity to make a choice to support a worthwhile cause.
When you buy a Joanna Tag, $10 of the $25 fee goes to the Foundation. It adds up. Even if you already have a specialty tag, maybe you have more than one vehicle.
Whether you buy a tag or not is really not the issue. The issue is the fight, the mission and purpose of Joanna’s Foundation:
The mission of the Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation, Inc. is to raise awareness, provide support and fund research for childhood cancer.
Those of us closest to Joanna never want to forget the battle she fought. Her fighting spirit inspired us to create a foundation in her honor to support other children stricken with cancer. We will strive to serve our purpose with a similar spirit, determination, and godliness as Joanna.
You can donate or, more importantly, help spread the word. Either way, Joanna would be happy!
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