The fourth annual Jessi’s Wish Memorial Benefit will be held Saturday, June 9, from 1-11 p.m. at Rock Island Resort, N2737 Hwy. 107, Merrill.
Jessi’s Wish was started as a memorial to honor the wish of an amazing woman. Jessi Alft was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 at the age of 32. After surgeries, chemo and radiation, she was declared cancer free. However, in 2009 her cancer had returned. It had metastasized to her liver. Sadly, Jessi lost her battle with cancer in 2014 at the age of 39.
Jessi never gave up hope and always had a positive attitude. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. She went through chemo treatments three out of four weeks a month for five years while continuing to work full time to support herself and her son.
Something Jessi often talked about was that she did not feel there was enough monetary support for families while they were fighting cancer. Her wish had always been to help families affected by cancer while they were fighting this disease, and that is how Jessi’s Wish was born.
Jessi’s Wish was established in the fall of 2014 with the sole purpose to raise money to be given to local families whose lives are being affected by cancer. Jessi’s Wish is a recognized non-profit organization and all the money raised goes to help local families.
A yearly benefit and smaller fund raisers are held throughout the year to help raise money to help those in need. Jessi’s Wish has helped over 65 families so far for a total of $70,000 and still going strong! A scholarship has also been established in the name of Jessi’s Wish and awarded $1,000 to a student in each of the 2016 and 2017 graduating classes.
If you wish to nominate someone who is dealing with cancer, you can contact Becky Roberts at [email protected] or Johnille Alft at [email protected]. Please include the name of the person who has cancer, and a contact with telephone number. Each potential recipient is reviewed at the group’s monthly board meetings.