V23|NO42
AMYCHRISTIAN
Repeat Success
Co-workers of Cheree Holcombe work to raise money for the cancer-stricken mother of two
In 2011, Cheree Holcombe’s co-workers at Jones, Jones, Davis & Associates, a CPA firm on Wheeler Road, decided to put together a lastminute fundraiser for the mother of two, who is battling cervical cancer. They raised $12,000. “We didn’t start planning it until about two months prior and we just kind of threw it together,” said her co-worker and friend Mandy Easler. “I look back at last year and think, ‘How did we do this?’ But it all worked out perfectly.” This year, Mandy and the entire firm are looking to best last year’s numbers. They started planning much earlier than they did last year and added more components to the benefit. Don’t worry, though; those looking forward to buying a barbecue plate will still be able to. While they’re
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eating, however, they will also be able to buy raffle tickets for some great prizes. “And when we do the raffle, we’ll start with the highest-priced ones first so, so far, it’ll be he Apple ones and then we’ll just start randomly drawing,” Easler said. “And you don’t have to be present to win. We’ll have everyone’s phone number and email address, so we’ll contact them.” Easler said they’re still accepting donations for the raffle, but some of the prizes already up for grabs are two Apple gift cards, each for $650; several restaurant gift cards (Carrabba’s, The Chop House and Mellow Mushroom so far); a cookie platter from Two Mom’s Cookies; a Wildtree Spice Bundle Basket valued at $80; a Johansen Sporting Goods basket; a dental care basket from Dr. James Dunn; a peanut basket from Producer’s Peanuts; a haircare basket from Jondal; a women’s physical therapy fall basket; a haircut, wash and blow dry from Trisha Bentley; two certificates for haircuts from Michelle James Salon, each valued at $55; and a
$50 gift card from Pain Management. Those who wish to contribute prizes can call Easler at the number listed below. Cheree Holcomb (pictured here with her brother, Michael Leonard), a single mom to Caroline, 11, and Maddie, 9, has worked for Jones, Jones, Davis & Associates for several years and had a previous bout with cancer. “It had occurred years ago and she was at her fiveyear mark and went to see her doctors and they found something,” Easler explained. “She’s had numerous surgeries, chemos and radiation… two types of chemo to try and shrink the tumors. They’re just kind of grasping at straws to try and figure out a way to stop the cancer.” Easler added that Cheree is still employed at Jones, Jones, Davis & Associates, but hasn’t been able to work for a while because of both the disease and the effects of the treatments. That’s why the office, as well as the friends and family of those employed there, decided to repeat the fundraiser. Held outside the firm’s offices, everyone is pitching in to cook the chicken, green beans, potato salad, bread and desserts that will be sold for $10 a plate. Easler even said that her father is getting into the act, boiling the peanuts they’ll be selling by the bag. “I would love to meet what we did last year and, if we could go over that, that would be amazing,” Easler said. “Anything would help when she’s not able to work and has all these medical bills to pay.” But more than that, Easler and the staff at Jones, Jones, Davis & Associates want to give the Holcombe family hope, something that’s in short supply for them right now. “It’s really hard for her, and it’s hard for her girls, too, to see their mom sick,” she said. “But she’s doing what she has to do because she wants to be here for her girls.” Benefit for Cheree Holcombe Jones, Jones, Davis & Associates | 3602 Wheeler Road Saturday, November 10 | 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Chicken plate, $10; raffle tickets, $10 for one and $20 for three Please call, if possible by Friday, October 26, for advance reservations on plate purchases; peanuts and raffle tickets will be sold the day of the event 706-650-8877 | jjdacpa.com
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