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Bingo! for Barksdale Foundation

   Written by on March 3, 2016 at 12:08 pm

bingo prizesAnnual Thirty-One/Vera Bradley Bingo fast approaching

By April Hall, Staff Writer

The Barksdale Cancer Foundation’s seventh annual Thirty-One/Vera Bradley Bingo will be held March 20 at the Bacon District Volunteer Fire Department in Wylliesburg. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games begin at 2 p.m.

The Barksdale Cancer Foundation was founded in 1999 after the Barksdale family from Phenix lost three family members in a four-year period to cancer. Seeing the suffering and anguish experienced during these trying years, the family decided they would like to memorialize their loved ones and at the same time help others in Charlotte County who were suffering due to the same illness.

In the first years, the Barksdale family held auctions among themselves instead of exchanging Christmas gifts, donating and selling to each other. Those events netted over $14,000 which the family gave to a cancer society group. However, when they discovered that the money did not remain in the county to help citizens, they set about finding a way to do so. They applied for and received a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and took the organization public, realizing they needed help from outside the parameters of family in order to increase fundraising efforts.

To date, the organization has given out 199 grants totaling nearly $120,000 to patients in Charlotte County. The group does more than just award money to patients. They have partnered with a task force which is funded by the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission and VCU Cancer Center. This coalition has strengthened local cancer organizations and given them resources not otherwise available.

The partnership allows the foundation to provide educational packets, along with “comfort bags” that are thermal and reusable, and filled with items that help make doctor visits more pleasant. Other items that the foundation has been able to obtain for patients are wigs, caps, “boogie boards,” port protectors and a variety of prosthesis items for breast cancer patients. The organization, along with help from others in the area, has also authored a transportation brochure, which not only helps patients having difficulty getting to and from appointments, but puts them in touch with cab companies and transport businesses which offer a reduced rate for cancer patients.

In addition, the Barksdale Cancer Foundation annually awards a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating county student who is pursuing a career in the medical field, preferably in the field of oncology.

Wendy Lankford, President of the Barksdale Cancer Foundation and an eight-year survivor of a rare type of cancer called adenoid cystic carcinoma said, “That experience in my life has made me absolutely passionate about this organization, and I truly feel that it is the reason the Lord has kept me here, to help take care of Charlotte County’s cancer patients.”

“We have many local groups and citizens that help in our efforts,” said Lankford, “including a local quilters guild that makes ‘prayer bears’ for our patients. Also, this past Christmas, a popular babysitter in the the Red Oak community, Teresa Dunaway, chose our foundation as a ‘Christmas Project’ for her children. Teresa, along with her children and their parents, purchased all 10 Thirty-One bags that will be used as bingo prizes, in addition to other items to be used as door prizes, consolation prizes, raffle prizes, and much more.”

Tickets for the bingo are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and can be purchased by calling Wendy at 434-735-8540, Pixie at 434-568-6931 or Kim at 434-414-5032. A ticket holder has a chance at 10 ‘Vera Bradley’ bags and 10 ‘31’ bags. Also to date there are 25 raffle prizes up for grabs. In addition, there will be door prizes and concessions available for purchase.

If you know of someone in Charlotte County who is battling cancer and in need of assistance, please call Terri Jones at 434-735-8196 for an application.

Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to the foundation may do so by mailing it to BCF, PO Box 225, Charlotte Court House, VA 23923.

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