(Photo Provided) The Ohio Valley Jeep Club has donated about $1,500 to BrAva, a local nonprofit support group for families with children with cancer. The Light up the Skies for Pediatric Cancer was held Sept. 5 at the Pizza Station in Parkersburg.

PARKERSBURG — A local children’s cancer family support group has received about $1,500 from a fundraiser sponsored by the Ohio Valley Jeep Club.

The three-hour event on Sept. 5 raised the funds for BrAva, named after Bridget Crock and Ava Nichols, two local girls with childhood cancer, which helps families with funding and support. The nonprofit BrAva has donated more than $550,000 to CureSearch and local families affected by childhood cancer.

The Light up the Skies for Pediatric Cancer Awareness was held at the Pizza Station on Third Street in Parkersburg. More than 45 Jeeps from the club packed the parking lot where the BrAva cement truck was available for photo opportunities.

“This event was absolutely amazing,” said Missy Plumly, club events director and mother of a pediatric cancer angel. “We had Jeeps surrounding the BrAva truck and, at dark, every Jeep there shined their headlights at the BrAva truck. We even had one Jeeper shine her laser whip lights into the sky in memory of my son and other children who have died from cancer.”

Total donations to BrAva by the club and visitors was $1,045. Another $448 was donated from The Pizza Station that pledged 10% of sales from the night.

Club members donated more than $500 in cash with the club doubling those donations. Several parents of current pediatric survivors also placed donations.

“We had one young lady introduce herself as a survivor and thank us for this salute to children,” club President Brad Hackney said. “This young lady handed us cash to support other survivors and their families. It was the most heartwarming thing ever.”

BrAva was chosen because pediatric cancer hits home to her family and members of the club, Plumly said.

“When my family needed help, they were there for us,” she said. “Now it is time to give back and OVJC is proud to do just that.”

The event lasted about four hours with more than 100 people in attendance.

“People brought lawn chairs and sat around their Jeeps,” Hackney said. “We chatted with visitors, hung out with friends, had some great pizza and collected money for families in need. As a club, we are proud to start this tradition.”

Light up the Skies for Pediatric Cancer Awareness will become an annual event, club Vice President Scott Jones said.

“Just seeing these kids come out to see us, knowing they are fighting this courageous battle really meant something to us, ” Jones said. “We were able to show off our Jeeps and open our pockets to help them too.”

Light up the Skies for Pediatric Cancer Awareness is part of the club’s Cares initiative, a program designed by club organizers to give back to the community.

The Ohio Valley Jeep Club is among the largest in West Virginia and Ohio with more than 7,000 members.