Every day, 43 children are diagnosed with cancer. Every 2 minutes, a parent hears their child has cancer. Childhood cancer is the #1 disease killer of children in the U.S. 12% of kids diagnosed with cancer do not survive. Unfortunately, Campbell Grady Dale, the son of David and Jill Dale, was one of them. On February 12, 2014, Campbell entered Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children at UMMC. He would later be diagnosed with Stage IV Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer of the soft tissue. He went through 54 weeks of rigorous and harmful chemotherapy and 24 straight days of abdominal radiation. At his final scans April 1, 2015, a new growth was located near the original tumor site. This new tumor was removed and he began another protocol of harsh chemotherapy. At his 6 week scans, it was discovered his cancer had spread to 4 new places and the just removed site. Through the helpful work of many doctors, he was able to get into a trial at St. Jude immediately and began this new trial at the end of July 2015. On August 17, 2015, Campbell's parents were told the terrible news that his cancer had spread even more and there was not much else that could be done to save his young life. They sorrowfully returned home to Jackson and that day will always be known as the day of the rainbows because they saw 4 on their flight home from Memphis. David and Jill knew this was a sign from God that it was time to take Campbell home and let him live out his life to the fullest in the time he had left. In those 5 weeks, Campbell was a Bulldog for a day in Starkville (he loved MSU and they loved him right back), he was celebrated at his Make a Wish Reveal Party, and he got to spend a week at Disney World…a dream for him with no doctors, no nurses and no shots. He left this world at 5 years old on Friday, September 18, 2015.

"As a parent, the worst news you can ever receive is that your child has cancer. Or so we thought," says mom Jill. "When we were told there was nothing more that could be done to save his life, that became the worst news," she continues. "It is our mission and now our passion to bring awareness to the fight our littlest heroes are fighting every day. No child should have to fight for their life because of a beast named cancer and no child should lose their life to that same beast." The National Cancer Institute designates less than 4% of their budget to Pediatric Cancer Research. "In the past 20 years, only 3 new drugs have been approved by the FDA to fight Pediatric Cancer…only 3! The 3rd drug was approved in 2015. Our kids deserve more than 4% and more than 3 drugs every 20 years. We hope to be a part of the movement to change those numbers," says Jill.

Worldwide, September is recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Gold is the color for Childhood Cancer. Many buildings, businesses and sports teams “Go Gold” throughout the month. In 2016, David and Jill created the Campbell Bulldog Fund for Childhood Cancer Awareness and Research at the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson to raise awareness throughout Mississippi. We are working with the Children’s Cancer Clinic at Batson Hospital for Children to bring awareness to the people of Mississippi about a subject that is hard to fathom, much less talk about which is children fighting for their lives and some even losing their life. Because of the combined efforts of several metro-area schools, sponsor Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, and the generous people of Mississippi, David and Jill were able to present a check from the Campbell Bulldog Fund at the CFGJ for $30,000 to the Children’s Cancer Clinic at Batson Children’s Hospital designated for research for childhood cancer.

To learn more about the Going Gold For MS Kids campaign, click here. Inspiration Mississippi hopes you will Go Gold during the month of September to honor the youngest heroes fighting the biggest battle.  

Pick Your Charity, a month-long contest and fundraising event sponsored by Brown Bottling Group in conjunction with central Mississippi Kroger stores, Canada Dry, and Dr. Pepper took place from July 5, 2017 until August 1, 2017. There were three big winners in the contest:  Heritage Hills, It Takes a Village, and IONA House.  Out of more than 40,000 total votes, Heritage Hills, a Brookhaven-based charity that provides for orphans and underprivileged children, won first place and $10,000.  It Still Takes a Village, a Natchez-based charity that mentors children who have lost a parent or sibling, came in second place, winning $3,000, and IONA House, a Jackson-based charity that operates a food pantry for the less fortunate came in third place, winning $2,000.

Throughout the contest, one dollar from every case of Dr Pepper and Canada Dry 12 packs and .5L 6 packs purchased at Kroger locations in central Mississippi was collected to benefit the three charity finalists: It Still Takes a Village, IONA House, and Heritage Hills. The charities encouraged their supporters to vote online daily.  On August 18, 2017, Brown Bottling Group presented a check along with Kroger, Canada Dry and Dr Pepper on Friday, August 18, in the amount of $10,000 to Heritage Hills.

“There are so many worthy causes that need assistance throughout Mississippi,” said Shelley Brown Floyd, Chief Marketing Officer at Brown Botting Group.  “We’re delighted these funds from Pick Your Charity are able to directly impact three charities doing admirable work in the communities we serve.”

For more information on Brown Bottling Group, click here.

A treasured Mississippi television reporter wed a handsome photojournalist in a dreamy, elegant hometown ceremony. “First Baptist Church of Corinth is my home church,” smiles Courtney Ann Jackson.  “It’s where I always dreamed of walking down the aisle to my husband.”  Jackson did just that.  In a beautifully classic dress fashioned of Dupioni silk and covered buttons, Jackson married Drew Hall in an intimate ceremony.
 
As the newlyweds strolled into their reception, they were stunned by the breathtaking details.  Bouquets of roses, peonies and hydrangeas in soft shades of white and pink were woven throughout, creating a cascading look of movement.  “There is something so special about going home to celebrate your wedding,” reflects Jackson.  “I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

Venue:  First Baptist Church of Corinth
Photography:  Stephanie Rhea Photography
Florals:  Oxford Floral
Event Planner:  Kendall Poole Event Planning
Reception Venue:  The Franklin Courtyard
Lighting:  Davaine Lighting
Rentals:  Pretty Presentations Event Rentals
Cakes:  Carla Beard
Catering & Bar:  Pretty Presentations Catering
Band:  Bamboo Forest Band-RAM Entertainment
Dress:  A Southern Affair
Accessories:  The Bridal Path
Bridesmaid Dresses:  Bella Bridesmaids
Tuxes:  Tuxes Too Formal Wear
Videography:  The Film Poets
Hair & Makeup:  Lynsee Pannell
Transportation:  Crossroads Limousine

“Although this is not always the case, my client and I almost immediately connected and were able to hit the ground running as far as design direction,” reflects SummerHouse interior designer Elish Phares Moon.  “My client loves to make the most of every spot in her home and had decided to turn her attention to her outdoor area.”
 
Lined with potted citrus trees and a cozy dining area, Moon’s client desired a comfortable space to visit with family and relax during football games.  “My client is at once warm, engaging, hilarious and straightforward.  All attributes that translated to the design of her outdoor area!”  Moon chose a crisp white sofa and chairs, upholstered in an outdoor fabric; a firepit doubles as a modern coffee table.  Moon smiles, “My client’s personality shines in the accent pillows made of gorgeous outdoor caramel velvet and a subtle, reversal coral and white animal print.”  The previously dark patio is now bright, warm and comforting, beautifully matching the owners of the home!

“Grandma’s here!” Candace shouted, looking out at the driveway.  My six siblings and I scrambled to find hiding places.  Having been a proud and boisterous elementary teacher with a zero tolerance for nonsense for 42 years, Grandma meant business 24/7.  Instead of hugs and sweets, she brought workbooks, extra pencils and sharpeners, and an armful of fruit for her seven grandchildren.  After calling us out of our hiding places, she sat us at the kitchen table, slammed workbooks down and assigned us pages to finish before dinner.  You see, at the time, Grandma knew something we didn’t.  As African-American inhabitants of the Mississippi Delta, most people had written us off a long time ago to inevitable failure.  With educational disparity apparent in our schools through low national and state rankings, Grandma knew that the curriculum was insufficient for our success.  She had not only instilled in me the importance of education, but a perfectionist attitude, in which anything less than my best was not an option.”
Excerpt from Ericka Wheeler’s Personal Statement as a Rhodes Scholar Finalist
 
Nestled on the outskirts of a sleepy Delta town, a charming home surrounded by wildlife housed a family destined for greatness.  “Our neighbors were white-tailed deer and teeming kudzu,” reflects Ericka Wheeler, Rhodes Scholar from Millsaps College.  “I spent a lot of my time catching frogs, grasshoppers, and riding on dirt roads on the back of a four-wheeler.”  
 
Wheeler’s childhood memories revolve around the outdoors, spending time at her parents’ clinic in Greenwood, bedtime stories with her Grandma, and days in the Greenwood Public School System.   For Wheeler and her six siblings, getting a solid education was vital.  “Even as a little girl, Ericka was always surrounded by books,” reflects her grandmother, Maye D. Martin.  “She always asked me to read to her and she loved to play school.  She had an innate curiosity for learning.”

After spending forty-two years teaching in the public school system, Martin continued educating.  Her new focus was family. Martin watched her grandchildren every Friday, always armed with pencils, paper and a writing starter kit.  “I wanted to teach Ericka and her siblings about phonics, how to read and write.  I taught them to use adjectives, adverbs, similes and metaphors in their sentences, because it made their writing come alive!”
 
Wheeler attended first grade at Davis Elementary School in Greenwood, and her reading skills stunned the faculty.  Martin laughs, “She was reading to her class and her teacher was astonished and thought, ‘How is she reading?’ The teacher left the room in a hurry, grabbed another teacher and they both returned to listen to Ericka read.”
 
Wheeler continued to impress. With a hint of perfectionism and a drive to succeed, she soared through school with high marks.  “When I was applying to colleges, I had two sisters who were attending Millsaps College and they told me how much they loved it.  I knew I wanted to attend a smaller college and I spent the summer after high school graduation studying Chemistry there and the people were always so friendly.”  Wheeler smiles, “So, I decided to stay.”
 
Millsaps only fueled her love of learning.  With a goal of attending Medical School, Wheeler initially intended to major in Chemistry, but she had a change of heart.  “During my freshman year while taking required core classes, my history and literature books were speaking to me in ways that challenged me to re-think my own identity and the world around me. I decided it would be more beneficial and fun to explore this more during my undergraduate years and enjoy deeper science lessons later in medical school.”  Martin was surely beaming with pride.
 
During her junior year, Millsaps history professor Dr. Robert McElvaine approached Wheeler about applying for the Rhodes Scholarship.  Wheeler admits, “The toughest part was writing my personal statement.”  Her writing struck a chord, and was inspired by her greatest mentor, her Grandma. 
 
Wheeler became a Rhodes Scholar Finalist.  Joined by her mother and Martin, Wheeler traveled to Alabama for her final interviews.  After three hours of debating, the scholarship recipients were announced.  “My name was called and I remember my eyes tearing up in shock.  It would take weeks for it to sink in,” she smiles.  Wheeler became the first African-American woman to be awarded the coveted Rhodes Scholarship in Mississippi.
 
Even Martin was recognized.  “One of the judges came out and said, ‘Ericka, I want to meet your grandmother.’ He introduced himself and said he had read her personal statement about me.  I was so proud.  When Ericka learned how to read, I taught her how to write,” she says.
 
Wheeler is currently studying in Oxford, England, and will attend the distinguished Mayo Medical School upon her return.  “I am honored to serve as a role model for Mississippi girls and I hope to inspire them to push beyond the scope of what they’re used to thinking is possible,” she says.