About a year ago three friends, Darren Scarborough, Steve
Higginbotham, and Mike Webb came together for the cause of cancer. Their long
time friend, TJ Johnson found out he was one of many to join ‘a family’. This
family is not necessarily one sought after. This family is made up of hundreds
of cancer patients in Elbert County. Those three friends joined with
many more to prepare an escorted motor cycle ride from Elberton, GA to Helen, GA. People from all surrounding areas came to
ride strong that day and the friends raised eight thousand dollars to aid in the
duration of chemo treatments, surgeries, hospital stays, and what ever TJ and
his family needed during this time.
That ride and the realization of the numerous cancer
occurrences in our area of Georgia
inspired the friends to organize a group of people who have the same
goals, the goal being to help cancer patients get through the battle
with a monetary donation. This group is very diverse and many have had
experience with cancer or have loved ones who have experienced the
dreaded disease. The foundation has given away OVER $222,00 in the
form of monetary donations since its organizing in 2008.
The TJ & Friends Foundation hosts motorcycle rides,
softball tournaments, horse shows, bass tournaments, golf tournaments, auctions,
raffles and other entertainment activities in order to help fund this endeavor.
Founders and officers of this foundation are President Darren Scarborough, Vice
President Steve Higginbotham,
Vice President Mike Webb, Secretary Michelle Scarborough, and Treasurer
Leslie Jones. The foundation also is supported by a board of
directors, one from each county served with donations. Those people are
Chairman of Board Gary Purvis, Co-Chair Blake
Thompson, Chuck
Almond, Mary Jean Ginn, Doris
Hughes, Suraiya
Razzak, Emma Smith, Michael
Wilbanks, Johnny Seay, Sid Stephens and Pete Mincey. Angela Johnson serves as honorary
board member.
Your donations are vital to this dream and greatly
appreciated by many! Anyone may make a donation by contacting one of the
mentioned officers above or by logging on to tjandfriendsfoundation.com for more
information. We can also be found on Facebook!
If
you are now experiencing this disease, are a resident of Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Oglethorpe, Lincoln, Madison, or
Wilkes
County you may benefit from
the assistance of this foundation upon approval of your application which can be
obtained from the tjandfriendsfoundation.com website. Your application will be
reviewed by a board of directors. This foundation will not discriminate against
race, gender, age, social status or any other personal characteristics;
however you must provide proof of US citizenship, proof of county
citizenship, and proof of cancer treatment.
This foundation utilizes 100% of
proceeds available to benefit cancer patients in the above counties.
