At age 19, Jessica Moreland from Lusby was diagnosed with acute leukemia at St. Mary’s Hospital. Not a full-time college student at the time of her diagnosis, Moreland does not have the health insurance she needs.
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Friends and co-workers of the Moreland family have decided to hold a barbecue fundraiser on Friday, June 27, at the American Legion Post 274 in Lusby from 6 p.m. to midnight. The fundraiser will host the live band, Loose Cannon, and will provide a barbecue dinner catered by The Grill Sergeant BBQ in Solomon’s Island. All proceeds will go for Moreland’s health care.
“We are trying to raise any money to pay for those bills,” said Nancy Pope, explaining that medical costs are mounting for Shelly Tilly, Moreland’s mother and Pope’s co-worker.
She explained the bills for Leukemia tests and treatment have totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars. “A group of friends (Friends of Jessica) just got together to do whatever we can,” Pope said. The group is hoping others will join them and make financial donations.
According to Penny Goodenough, another Tilly co-worker, many of her and Tilly’s co-workers have donated their sick leave days, so Tilly can take off work.
“Jessica and my son went to the senior prom together, and she is just a lovely, lovely girl,” Goodenough said. “She is just the picture-poster child of the young female adult.”
The Moreland family has three other children, including one special-needs child adopted from Guatemala. Another one of the children has just graduated from Patuxent High School and is planning on going to college in the fall.
“The family is very kind and caring,” Goodenough stated. “We want to do anything to help her out to get through this.”
To purchased tickets to the fundraiser, call Nancy Pope at (410) 586-8366 or (301) 904-2160; Penny Goodenough at (410) 586-1106 or (410) 474-8471; or Pam Bevan at (443) 532-0047.