Community support needed for Cancer Benefit for two young Maricopa dads

Cancer can strike anyone, at any time. All Maricopa community members are being asked to pitch in and aid two young area fathers in their fight against cancer. A Cancer Benefit, including a concert and silent auction will be held on Saturday, May 13, from 4 – 8 p.m. at the Maricopa High School gymnasium.

Auditions for participants in the concert event will be held this Saturday, April 15, and next Saturday, April 22. Call (520) 568-2157 to reserve an audition time slot.

A silent auction will also be held for items like high-end baked goods, handcrafted and donated items. All donations will be gratefully accepted, even if only a percentage of the item(s) sold can be donated.

Proceeds from both the concert and the silent auction will go entirely to these two families for the treatment of the two young dads who are fighting cancer:

The Jackson Family

Tony and Margaret Jackson have six children, ranging in age from 2 to 11. Self-employed, doing landscape maintenance for the last 13 years of their marriage, Tony could often be found at local clean-up projects, helping people change a tire on the side of the road and welcoming people to the community. In December Tony was diagnosed with colon cancer. Since November, because of pain and difficulty in sitting, he has been unemployed. Most recently a holistic treatment option, which, hopefully, will work, has been found for him.

Having no insurance and with doctors requiring cash up front for visits and tests, Margaret has been trying to keep everything together by taking available day jobs and substitute teaching, allowing her the flexibility to care for Tony and their children as needed. Putting family first, she recently resigned from the Maricopa Unified School District’s governing board, where she was an advocate for children, parental involvement and sound finances.

The Jacksons are overwhelmingly grateful that their friends in Maricopa would willingly help them at this difficult time. Since relatives live so far away, their Maricopa friends have, in many ways, become a substitute family during this very challenging and uncertain time.

The Masters Family

Kirk Masters, 32, and his wife Jeanette, 25, have made many friends since they moved to Maricopa. They are both active members of their church and community. In April of 2005 Kirk was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer. Immediately unable to work, he has spent the last year undergoing treatment, including a bone marrow transplant performed last October, but he is still struggling with his health. In addition to his fight against cancer, he is overcoming a recent bout with spinal meningitis, an infection of the fluid around his spinal chord. He is very underweight and fighting to keep his immune system strong.

At the time they received Kirk’s diagnosis, Jeanette was pregnant with their second child, Maleah, who is now seven months old. She has an older sister, Netalia, who is three.

Kirk and Jeanette have done much to support themselves during this financially difficult time. They have planned well and were able to stay afloat this last year. Jeanette teaches water aerobics when she is not caring for Kirk and their two children. The Masters family is grateful for the support and love they feel from their friends in Maricopa. In this difficult time, they have found strength through the service of others, whose help has been immeasurable.

Please call (520) 568-2157 for more information, to participate in the concert or to donate items for the silent auction.