Community joins in fight for Brite
By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER
As 4-year-old Jonathan Brite fights for his life, the community has rallied, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him in the fight.
This weekend, across Lockhart, charitable organizations and caring neighbors will be hosting a series of fundraisers to help Brite, who was diagnosed last year with Stag
e V Wilms Tumors.
Wilms Tumors are a brand of kidney cancer, which is diagnosed in around 500 patients annually in the United States. It is almost exclusively diagnosed in children, and is often thought to be the result of kidney cells that continue to grow, after development of the kidney is complete.
Jonathan’s case is even more rare, as the tumors are present in both of his kidneys, a situation that impacts only 5 percent of Wilms patients.
According to a GoFundMe.com site for the family, Jonathan’s mother, Tempi Lee Hightower, has been forced to quit her job to care for Jonathan, who will be undergoing chemotherapy treatments at Dell Children’s Medical Center during weekends, over a period of 24 weeks.
On the heels of his second round of chemo, members of the community, including the Lockhart Area Community Youth, the First Baptist Church and the Michie Music Studio will be hosting a series of fundraising events in an effort to help Brite, his mother, and his two brothers.
On Saturday morning, the Lockhart Area Community Youth and the First Baptist Church will be holding a Jay Walk 4 Life event, a four-mile walk beginning at Lions Park and winding through Lockhart’s scenic “East Side.” The walk begins at 9 a.m., and participants are asked for a $4 donation to the family’s fund.
Afterward, beginning at 2 p.m., a plate sale will be held, also at Lions Park.
St. Mark United Methodist Church will host a very special gospel concert on Saturday evening, beginning at 5 p.m., with proceeds also benefitting Jonathan’s medical fund. The Church is located at 600 E. Live Oak.
On Sunday, the Michie Music School and Grace Lutheran Church will host a musical program themed, “It Takes A Village to Raise A Child,” noting this community is Jonathan’s “village.”
The program, beginning at 2 p.m., will include the 3-year-old class from Grace Lutheran Preschool, students from the Michie Music Studio and other special guest, including vocalist Nita McBride.
To learn more about Jonathan or to donate to the “Go Fund Me” account, visit www.gofundme.com/JBkickincancer.
What a precious and brave little boy… I had the pleasure to meet Jonathan and this young man is such an inspiration to all.
God bless and watch over him and his family.