By Scott Buttram
Publisher
TRUSSVILLE –Hewitt-Trussville Middle School faculty member Bartley Brown, organizer of the annual charity basketball game, has felt impact of a family member battling cancer personally. Several years ago his wife, Paula, fought and won her own battle over the disease.
Brown, with the help of the entire student body and faculty at the middle school, continues to organize and promote the event each year with a high level of success.
Every year, a cancer charity is chosen to be the recipient of the funds raised at the game, which will be held Monday night at 6:30 at HTMS.
Middle school student organizations participate in multiple ways to pull off the event, with each group taking a different area of responsibility. All students are challenged to raise 50 to 100 dollars to help the cause.
This year’s charity is colon cancer research which hit home with several middle school students. But for one student who recently lost his father to the disease, helping promote the event became a personal mission.
Peyton Jackson watched his father, Chris, battle colon cancer for months and endure difficult treatment before passing away.
HTMS teacher Jamie O’Brien, who was aware of the Jackson family’s experience with colon cancer, reached out to Peyton and asked him to help him promote the game.
“Mrs. O’Brien asked me in English if I would do a power point to promote colon cancer research and I told her I would,” Jackson said. “My mom (Tracey) helped me do it.”
Jackson produced a power point and then recorded a video, providing the voice over himself. The video was then shared with homeroom teachers who forwarded it on to parents.
Jackson said the project was bittersweet.
“It was fun, but it was hard, too, because it made me think about my Dad,” Jackson said. “I really wanted to do it to honor him.”
Admission to Monday’s game will be and Jackson said he’s looking forward to the night.
“I’ll be there watching,” Jackson said. “They may show the video, but I just think it will be fun to watch game. I’m looking forward to being there with my friends.”