New cancer charity plans benefit horse show Saturday

All money raised through the Bedford Cancer Foundation, formed last month, will directly benefit local cancer patients. Starting with Saturday night's Walking For Cancer Horse Show, the foundation will have two large benefits each year, said Jon' Jenné, board member of the foundation.

The Bedford Cancer Foundation will aim to assist local cancer patients in financial need of things like gas to get to doctor's appointments, Ensure (a supplemental drink consumed by many cancer patients), walkers and other necessities.

The idea for the foundation came from Jenné, who has been an active participator of ACS's Relay For Life for several years.

"I was raised to give back," she said. "While Relay is wonderful, and I'll still support it, I wanted to be more hands on with the people I was helping ... I really wanted to help those people who couldn't afford things for one reason or another."

Jenné said all money raised by the foundation will stay in Bedford County, where as with the ACS, money raised cannot be designated to a particular area of need or location.

Bedford Cancer Foundation also plans to raise money for research, but Stewart said all of the details about this aspect have not been worked out. They've talked about donating leftover funds to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis; Vanderbilt University Medical Center or HCA's Sarah Cannon Cancer Center.

Jenné has experience when it comes to fundraisers. Several years ago she organized a baseball game between the Walking Horse Trainers' Association and its youth association. The event raised $60,000 for a local girl suffering from bone cancer.

Jenné said no one in her family has ever had cancer and the same holds true for her husband, which is why she has been so involved with Relay.

"There are very few people who can say this," she said. "I wanted to help those who have been affected."

The foundation will enable "people to easily and effectively support and promote funding for charitable, research and educational projects that will save lives and diminish suffering from cancer," according to the 501(c)(3) charity's mission statement.

"We are very specific and don't want money raised to go toward salaries," said board member Virginia Stewart. "Cancer patients drink Ensure by the cases, and many can't afford it, or maybe they can't afford to buy a walker ... We want to help people in Bedford County who have a dire financial need."

Stewart said there is an application process and one goal of the foundation is "to assist qualified patients while undergoing treatment when other financial sources of assistance have been denied or exhausted. Qualification for financial assistance is based on income eligibility."

Jenné is putting her fundraising skills to the test once again this Saturday. She is the show manager of the horse show and all proceeds from the show go directly toward the Bedford Cancer Foundation. Prior to this year, the show benefited Relay for Life, which received $36,000 in two years from show proceeds.

The show begins at 5 p.m. at the Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center. Admission is $5 and children under six are admitted free. Judy Martin of Shelbyville will judge the 29-class show. There will be a special "Christmas in October" vending area for show-goers to visit as well.

For more information about the show, or Bedford Cancer Foundation, contact Jenné at 224-3046.

If you go

The Walking for Cancer Horse Show will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday at Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center. Admission is $5 for ages 6-up.