JCCF seeks to bring holiday cheer

The Jimmy Crabtree Cancer Fund is coming together with the help of members of the local community for its annual Brighten Someone’s Christmas event this December. 

The nonprofit organization is collecting donated gift cards to be distributed during the holidays to help those affected by cancer. 

The foundation was created in honor of Jimmy Crabtree, who died in April 2011 after an eight-month battle with carcinoid cancer. He was only 42.

Sue Crabtree, Jimmy’s mother, said although the organization itself only assists those with a need who have or know someone with cancer in West Orange, the foundation felt the gift card collection was something done outside of the local area.

“This is something that we can do for people who don’t necessarily have a need for money but who maybe have a need for cheer, especially during the holidays,” Sue Crabtree said. “We found out Jimmy had cancer in August, and he passed away in April, so we went through the holidays with him, and we saw how depressed he was. I think it’s always a good time to help brighten someone’s day, but we zero in on Christmastime for this and let them know we are thinking about them.”

KICKOFF EVENT

“Brighten Someone’s Christmas” kicked off the collection with an event Monday, Nov. 28, at the Tasting Room in downtown Winter Garden.

The event brought many community members to the restaurant, including many of Jimmy Crabtree’s family and friends, and representatives from organizations such as AdventHealth, Mike the Mechanic, and the city of Winter Garden.

Sue Crabtree said the foundation even had a member of the community come forward this year with a group of friends who are helping two of the organization’s families, as well as providing Thanksgiving to another family.

“This has grown from just us giving gift cards to putting the idea in other people’s mind that there’s people out there that need help,” she said. 

Mike and Patti Brankert, of Mike the Mechanic, helped coordinate the Thanksgiving assistance and now are working to help those in need during Christmastime. Patti Brankert is working with a group of 20 women, including Patti Merrick, who is hosting, to help purchase items on the Christmas lists of children from two local single mothers.

“We want to help the children,” Mike Brankert said. “We work within this community, which is why it’s even more important we help people right within this community.”

Three members from AdventHealth’s oncology social work team, Catherine Lindner, Toni Marzella and Carmen Dossett, also attended. The three said they did not come to represent AdventHealth but instead to support Sue Crabtree. 

“The foundation has supported so many of our patients,” Lindner said. “I met Sue about six years ago when the foundation was beginning to evolve, and I immediately fell in love with her and her mission.”

Dossett said any small thing a community member can do makes a difference.

“Lifting a family member up during that time is very beneficial,” she said. “Cancer treatments are very isolating, and it lets the person affected know someone is thinking about them outside of just their family or friends.” 

Although the gift cards can be any amount, a $25 minimum is suggested. The cards will be collected until Monday, Dec. 12. 

CREATING CHEER

Sue Crabtree and her daughter, Karen Crabtree Davis, collect the gift cards and place them inside personalized Christmas cards before taking them to the post office and mailing them out across the United States. 

“It helps lift someone’s spirit more than you know,” Davis said. “When you have cancer you don’t realize everything that comes with it until you’re actually in the midst of it.”

Sue Crabtree said the distribution of gift cards requires a lot of research as people who live in different states need to receive gift cards to organizations in their area. 

The collection has been well received in the community since the event started in 2014. Last year, JCCF collected more than $6,000 in gift cards for about 25-30 people. 

“It’s one of our favorite things to do,” Sue Crabtree said. “We have gotten a lot of good responses and so many ‘thank yous.’ A lot of them in turn will even send us a gift card next year to give out. Some people even pass their gift cards on to another person who may need some cheer. It’s their gift card so they can do what they would like to do with them.”

FUTURE PLANS

JCCF will next host its 13th annual golf tournament coming up in March. The event, which typically sells out, is one of the organization’s biggest events of the year and includes a barbecue dinner and auctions. 

In addition, the nonprofit is introducing a new event which will come in June. 

The dinner will raise money and awareness for a scholarship fund in partnership with Valencia College, which JCCF has supported for about six years. Sanford “Sandy” Shugart, the fourth president of the college who served from 2001 to 2021, will be in attendance. 

The following event will be the 10th annual family fun event hosted in August in Apopka.

In the future, Sue Crabtree said she plans on impacting more people and making people aware of those who are dealing with cancer and its effects. 

“I hope this organization continues long after I’m gone and after my husband is gone,” she said. “Our board is made up of family members, but we are impacted every day by the community. They have really pulled forward. They helped Jimmy so much and his family. We’re paying back by doing this, and they’re paying back by carrying out our wishes. Be kind to one another. I think it’s important to reach out. I’ve learned that more so since starting this than I ever did before.”