it takes a village.
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meet Josh, a Restoration Grant recipient
Author: Sadie Knight, Executive Director of 118 Foundation
Anyone who has had cancer will tell you that you can’t do it alone: It takes a village to beat cancer. Josh Erb of California, Kentucky understands that well.
Josh was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2020. He was a college student at the University of Cincinnati and had just started dating his now-fiance, Cheyenne. The two had no clue what the road ahead would hold, and when Josh was diagnosed, Cheyenne didn’t budge.
Over the span of the last five years, Cheyenne has spent many nights on the pull out couch in Josh’s hospital room, celebrated him going into remission, and comforted him when the cancer came back. But she wasn’t alone. Josh’s mom goes to every single appointment with him. She doesn’t let him step a foot in to a doctor’s office unaccompanied. And Josh’s dad, pictured with Josh above, served as the donor for his bone marrow transplant.
And Josh’s roster keeps growing. His friend Tanner nominated him for a Restoration Grant, and upon receiving one of 118's grants, Josh also received the backing of folks across the nation who donated their resources to fund the Restoration Grant program. 118 is proud to now be a part of Josh’s village.
Josh used the Restoration Grant to pay the mortgage on the house he and Cheyenne built, where they - and their pup Trip - enjoy a few acres of refuge and peace as Josh continues to heal from cancer.
meet
Madi
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The first recipient of 118 Foundation's Restoration Grant.
118 Foundation Awards Its First Restoration Grant
Author: Sadie Lackey, Executive Director of 118 Foundation
Madi is a Texas firecracker who is giving brain cancer what-for.
She loves her family, and her favorite time is time spent with her fiancé and step kiddos. And like any good Southern woman, she loves to cook!
Despite her diagnosis, Madi prides herself in taking control of her physical health by working out and investing in her body. She refuses to allow cancer to slow her down.
One of the many beautiful characteristics of Madi is her heart. She has used her diagnosis to lock arms with other cancer butt-kickers and build a community that supports and loves each other.
Because of the generosity of 118's donors and partners, the Foundation awarded Madi’s Restoration Grant the day is launched.
The 118 Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis and awards grants quarterly. The application for 2024 will launch on March 1, 2024. For more information, click here or email restoration@118foundation.org.
118 Launch Party
118 celebrated its official launch in Washington, DC.
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118 Foundation Officially Launches
Author: Autumn Lankford, 118 Foundation Board Member
The 118 Foundation officially launched on January 18, 2024, jumpstarting its work to help young people overcome cancer.
"Months of work have gone into getting 118 off of the ground," said 118 Foundation board member, Brandon Knight. "I am incredibly proud of our team for making this vision a reality and look forward to the good work that will be accomplished through this Foundation."
118 Foundation hosted an event at Silver Diner in Washington, DC to celebrate the launch. The event was themed, "A Comeback Celebration," and highlighted how and why 118 is committed to the comeback from cancer. Torrey Advisory Group was the premier sponsor of the event, and Kyle Gilliam with the Shull Realty Group and CNCT supported the event as well.
Guests learned about 118's future plans and current successes as well as heard from 118 Foundation Executive Director, Sadie Lackey. Lackey shared some of her story as a cancer survivor and how her journey inspired the 118 Foundation.
"I am blessed because God allowed me to turn my mess into a miracle, and my pain became my purpose," Lackey said. "Sickness is not my story, and sickness is not anyone's story."
Donations from this event have been earmarked to support 118's Restoration Grant Program.
Click here to view photos from the event.