Jeep Club, Pizza Station join for Light Up the Sky fundraiser for BrAva
Photo Provided About $1,500 in donations were raised last year at the Light Up the Sky fundraiser for BrAva.
Photo Provided Participants in last year’s Light Up the Sky fundraiser for BrAva and its efforts to help families affected by pediatric cancer light up the concrete truck from Smith Concrete. This year’s fundraiser sponsored by the Ohio Valley Jeep Club with the Pizza Station in Parkersburg will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday.
Photo Provided The Light Up the Sky fundraiser by the Ohio Valley Jeep Club and the Pizza Station on Friday has special meaning for the Plumly family whose son, Billy, was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma at age 15 and died about five years ago. The event raises money for BrAva, a non-profit group in Marietta that helps families in the region affected by pediatric cancers.
Photo Provided About $1,500 in donations were raised last year at the Light Up the Sky fundraiser for BrAva.
Photo Provided Participants in last year’s Light Up the Sky fundraiser for BrAva and its efforts to help families affected by pediatric cancer light up the concrete truck from Smith Concrete. This year’s fundraiser sponsored by the Ohio Valley Jeep Club with the Pizza Station in Parkersburg will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday.
Photo Provided The Light Up the Sky fundraiser by the Ohio Valley Jeep Club and the Pizza Station on Friday has special meaning for the Plumly family whose son, Billy, was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma at age 15 and died about five years ago. The event raises money for BrAva, a non-profit group in Marietta that helps families in the region affected by pediatric cancers.
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PARKERSBURG - The Ohio Valley Jeep Club and the Pizza Station on Third Street have again joined together to raise money for local families affected by pediatric cancer.
As part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, members, customers and supporters from the community are invited to join them from 6-8 p.m. Friday for a special evening dedicated to honoring and remembering children whose lives have been impacted by the life-altering illness.
Now in its second year, the event will benefit BrAva, a Marietta-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting local pediatric cancer patients and their families.
Club Events Director Missy Plumly said the club plans to not only raise funds for BrAva through its OVJC Cares program, but also double donations collected during the event.
"Our club is dedicated to helping support groups like BrAva through the OVJC Cares program," Plumly said. "Last year, we were able to raise and donate almost $1,500. This year, we are setting our sights even higher."
Club members, guests and families affected by pediatric cancer are invited to participate in the evening's honorary event.
The BrAva cement truck, provided by Smith Concrete, will be placed in the center of the parking area near The Pizza Station. Jeeps will then line up around the truck as a show of support for local children and families affected by cancer.
The Pizza Station will offer dine-in and carryout options throughout the evening and has committed to donating 10% of all sales during the event to BrAva. Karaoke also will be available at the restaurant.
"Some people will take the time to go inside to eat, while others will just hang out outside," Plumly said. "We will have a table available for donations, so everyone will have an opportunity to participate."
The highlight of the evening will take place after dark when Jeep owners will "Light Up the Sky" in honor of children battling cancer.
"We want this to be a friendly, fun get-together to honor our local children," club Vice President Scott Jones said. "At dark, every Jeep present will turn on their headlights, glow lights, rock lights, even flashlights, and we are going to light up the sky for childhood cancer warriors, survivors and angels."
Last year's event raised nearly $1,500 for BrAva and organizers expect this year's to be larger. Club President Brad Hackney has committed the club to matching donations received during the event, up to $750, a more-than-30% increase in the club's contribution from last year.
"As our club itself grows, we are blessed to continue to be able to donate to worthy projects like this," Hackney said. "We are currently sitting at almost 10,000 members from across West Virginia and Ohio. We hope many of these members, as well as people interested in learning more about what we do, will come out, meet our members and help us honor children with cancer."
The first 100 donors will receive a custom-designed club sticker commemorating the event and honoring children and families affected by pediatric cancer.
The cause is especially personal for several club members have been directly affected by pediatric cancer, including the Plumly family, whose son, Billy, was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma at age 15.
"When you watch a child fight cancer, taking large doses of the same medication given to adults, it changes you," Plumly said. "You see just how strong a child's drive to live is, and you know just what a parent is willing to do to help their child survive their battle."
Club Administrator Jeanna Plumly said BrAva stood beside her family throughout Billy's battle, providing emotional and financial support when needed.
"BrAva was amazing for our family," she said. "Now, we want to help give back to them. We are blessed to have OVJC and The Pizza Station by our side to do this."
All Jeep owners are invited to participate in Friday night's Light Up the Sky for Pediatric Cancer event, along with anyone else interested in supporting the fundraiser.
"It is all about the kids," Jones said. "We are here for the children. Last year, we had a few local childhood cancer survivors join us. We hope even more are able to come check out the Jeeps and see that we are here, standing behind them throughout their battles."