By By JONATHAN CLAYBORNE
Staff Write
Washington residents are pulling together to help a cancer patient who needs their support.
A “Jingle Jog for Nan” will be held Saturday, beginning at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Main Street.
The title of the jog, or walk, derives from the fact that the participants will be wearing jingle bells.
Registration will run from 7 a.m. until 8 a.m. in the church’s All Saints Hall. It will cost $25 a person to sign up that day.
All funds raised during the event will go directly to Nan Purvis Lanier, the patient. Lanier is the daughter of longtime Washington educator Sarah Purvis.
Organizer Judy Young said that 80 adult walkers/joggers are expected, along with some of their children.
“It’s amazing how the community pulls together,” Young said.
Young is organizing the event along with husband, Dr. Richard Young, and her daughters, Emily Moore and Laura Smith.
Young said she’s also received assistance from experienced organizer Judy Van Dorp, neighbor Robin Turner and others.
“Washington is so good about taking care of its own,” Turner said. “They always rally around. It doesn’t take a close connection for people to step up to the plate.”
Young said the organizers hope to raise $2,000.
Currently a resident of Wendell, the 29-year-old Lanier grew up in Washington, her mother said. Lanier has a 10-month-old son, Greyson, and has a husband named Josh.
“We’re going in the right direction,” her mother said. “The treatment’s working. We have a strong faith and belief in the Lord, and he’s carrying us through this.”
She added, “I’m just amazed at all the support that we’ve had during this whole process. It’s awesome, it’s great. I’ll be right there with my jingle bells.”
Family, friends and supporters may follow Lanier’s progress on www.CaringBridge.org, a password-protected Web site that connects patients with communities, Moore related.
The online journal allows people to post photos and updates and communicate with patients, she said. People who wish to sign up for the site must provide a valid e-mail address, she added.
“She’s so excited and she’s very grateful,” Moore said of Lanier’s reaction to the upcoming fundraiser.
Said her mother, “It has been just wonderful and just so appreciated, and we’re just so grateful and just humbled by it all.”