Walk Across America with the Cobb Family
Houston Family Stops in Olive Branch, MS. on Walk Across America to Honor Late
Daughter and to Help Families Facing Cancer
Olive Branch, MS
A family of five from Houston is seventy percent through their journey to walk from Disneyland in Anaheim, California, to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Traveling by foot 20 to 25 miles a day,they will arrive in Olive Branch, Wednesday April 8th on their walk to honor their late daughter and help other families facing cancer.
Olive Branch residents and media are invited to join the Cobb Family as they walk from Tuscany Italian Steakhouse 5910 Goodman Rd. Olive Branch, MS 38654-9746 phone: (662)895-3663 toward Interstate 55, approximately 1.7 miles. There will be a social at Tuscany following the walk.
The Story Behind the 4,000 mile journey
Jennifer and Jonathan Cobb have had to face more than most families over the past 10 years. Both have lost their mothers to cancer, Jonathan battled a rare cancer himself, and then their daughter was diagnosed at the age of 6 with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. Julia spent 17 months undergoing treatment for her cancer in Houston before moving to Memphis for an attempt at a life-saving clinical trial stem cell transplant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. While there, Ju used her charisma and big heart to further the cause of research for pediatric cancer - the #1 cause of death by disease in children in the U.S. While there, she even volunteered for an additional trial to help study central lines. Despite her declining health and her advancing cancer, she was in the Thanks and Giving Campaign commercial with Shaun White to help raise funds for St. Jude. The Cobb Family credits St. Jude for giving them six additional months with their precious daughter. Before she passed away in October 2013, Ju’s doctor at St. Jude gave the 8-year-old one last opportunity to go on a Make-a-Wish trip with her family to Disney World.
“Disney World provided us with great memories as a family outside of the hospital and away from cancer in a sense,” said father Jonathan. “The last days we had with Ju were at a magical place, and it was a place that brought a smile to her face despite her being sick.”
Now they are stepping out to bring smiles and hope to other families. Walking from one end of the country to the other seems impossible, but that dream is becoming a reality now 245 days and 2,869.8 miles into their journey and the Mojave Desert, Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains behind them. Their message, and that of their nonprofit JuCan Foundation, is quite clear- with every step they take on this 4,000 mile journey, they are bringing awareness for how much support and funding is needed in the area of pediatric cancer.
“Each step we take will hopefully encourage those who are suffering that if we stand together in love, and place our hope in an amazing God, all things are possible,” said Jonathan. They have visited many hospitals and cancer patients and bereaved families along their trail.
They have also interviewed with major television networks and newspapers and spoken on radio shows to highlight pediatric cancer. They have also visited many state Capitols and met with congressmen to bring the awareness to a state level in hopes of changing legislation and funding for childhood cancer.
The Cobb Family estimates arriving to Disney World in June. Olive Branch residents can follow the Cobb Family as they continue their walk from Mississippi to Disney World and see how they uplift families everywhere with a JuCan – UCan attitude of determination , not accepting defeat, and holding on to hope of a cancer free world.
For more information on the foundation and to track their journey, visit: www.JuCanFoundation.org or follow them through social media:
Twitter/Instagram: @JuCanFoundation
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/JuCan413
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