Inaugural Macy Easom Memorial Charity Golf Tournament Huge Success
by Gail Daniels

Macy Easom

On Saturday, April 28, 2007, the Inaugural Macy Easom Memorial Charity Golf Tournament benefiting the Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation was held at the beautiful Southern Hills Golf Club in Hawkinsville, Georgia. Macy is the daughter of Jeff and Angel Easom of Warner Robins, Georgia, and the grandchild of Edd and Earline Easom, Gail Daniels and Mickey and Melanie Alexander of Blakely.

The McAfee and Easom families were brought together through circumstances that no parent wants to endure, the battle against pediatric cancer. Macy lost her battle against hepatoblastoma on June 9, 2005 and Joanna to Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma on December 22, 2005.

Both sets of parents say that there was a sweetness and kindness about their children that can't be described.

The Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation was established in early 2006 by Joanna's parents, Jeff and Misty McAfee, her brother Paul and friends of the family. The Foundation's mission is to raise awareness, provide fi- nancial and emotional support to childhood cancer families, and to fund research grants for pediatric cancer research. In their first year, the Foundation was able to award $11,000 in research grants in addition to helping many cancer families in the Middle Georgia area.

A current project is underway that is very important to the long-term success and growth for the Foundation. A specialty Georgia license plate will be available to all Georgia motorists, and proceeds from the tag will benefit the Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation. However, 1,000 reservations are required before the tag can go into production, and the foundation is hopeful that the tag will be in production by July 2007, and they need your help!

The tag is unique in that it features a silhouette of Joanna with outstretched arms that has become such a powerful and meaningful logo for the foundation. It really symbolizes the strength and courage that all these cancer kids have.

Jeff McAfee reports that since registration began on January 2, 2007, there have been about 500 tags reserved. It is very easy to reserve your tag. Simply download the application form from the foundation's website (www. SupportCancerKids.org) and mail to your local tag office along with a personal check, cashiers check, or money order.

If you prefer, you can also register in person at your local tag office.

Frequently asked questions about the tag and information about the foundation are available on the Foundation website. You can also contact Gail Daniels, local representative of the Foundation, for more information or if you would like to plan an event to support the Foundation. Ms. Daniels can be contacted at 229-723-2332 or by e-mail at gaildaniels333@alltel.net.

The wish of the families of Macy and Joanna is that no family will have to suffer through the effects of childhood cancer. But, for those that do, the families want to make it as comfortable as humanly possible through financial and emotional support. Please don't ever think, "it won't happen in our family" because it can and it does!

Ms. Daniels believes that we should be able to get the additional 500 tag reservations before July right here in our local area! Please support this wonderful effort by reserving your tag today!