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By Elisabeth Altamirano-Smith | Community Column

The Eli Jackson Foundation, which raises awareness for childhood cancer, will host Be Bold, Go Gold Sept. 10 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Richard Wood Park in Thorsby. The foundation began as a tribute to the late Eli Jackson who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at six months of age. The event will host vendors, activities for children, entertainment and an all-day raffle which will narrow down to a single $10,000 winning drawing. Tickets are $50.

“We will draw raffle tickets throughout the day for $100 and $500 prizes,” said event coordinator Tiffany Studdard. “Each time, we will take more tickets out of the draw until there is a single ticket remaining. The last ticket remaining will win $10,000!”

Tickets sales are limited, and winners do not have to be present to win. Studdard said that a significant portion of the proceeds will be given to Children’s Hospital for childhood brain cancer research.

“Eli was my nephew, and he spent nearly his entire life in the hospital — from the time he was diagnosed until a few days before his third birthday,” said Studdard. “We were initially told that he wouldn’t live more than six months, but Children’s Hospital gave us more time with him and it was quality time. The people that work there made what we were going through the best that it could be — from the medical staff to reception, to the security guards. When he passed away, they all came in to be with us. They even drove from out of town to come to his funeral. In our family’s grief, we wanted to do something to help support them so other families could continue to experience the same level of loving care that we did.”

The Be Bold, Go Gold event was created along with other Eli Jackson annual fundraising events (such as a fishing tournament in the spring) to help create childhood cancer awareness and help support Children’s Hospital resources (such free lodging at Ronald McDonald House and the purchase of red wagons.) This year, the Eli Jackson Foundation will create an annual scholarship to be given to a Chilton County graduate entering the medical or nursing field.

“This year is the first time we have started back since COVID began, and we are very excited,” said Studdard. “Chilton County Relay Queens and all of Chilton County’s Queens will come together at this event. We will also honor the children in Chilton County that are undergoing treatment or are in remission as well as remembering our loved ones that received their Heavenly healing instead of being healed here on Earth.”

To purchase raffle tickets through PayPal use @elijacksonfoundation for Venmo use @el1jacksonfoundation (note the 1 instead of the i) or donate online at www.elijacksonfoundation.com. Once a donation has been made online, a ticket number and photo will be sent to the donor. (Only a limited number of tickets will be sold.)