Not many stories around childhood cancer end in celebration. But last week, the folks at the nonprofit CURE Childhood Cancer had reason to jump for joy.
The nearly 50-year-old, Atlanta-based organization that funds pediatric oncology research and provides support to patients and their families received a groundbreaking $250,711.60 donation―one of the largest gifts in Southeast Georgia, according to a press release from Cecilia Russo Marketing.
The funds were raised through the construction of and sales proceeds from a new -family home in Rincon, Ga., built by Lawrence Alexander Homes, a custom homebuilder with communities in Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties. The homebuilder’s “Build for CURE” initiative.
Owner Alex Long tapped more than 30 other business, many that donated time, materials and labor to build the 117 Cravey Lane home, after hearing the story of Catie Wilkins, who was diagnosed an aggressive brain tumor before her first birthday. Wilkins, who lived in Effingham County, fought hard through multiple surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy before passing away in 2007 just shy of her fifth birthday. Her parents started the annual Catie’s Fund fundraiser, Catie’s Gathering , in her honor.