Event to encourage families to be a ray of hope this holiday season

Sixteen-year-old Bethany Bibb was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a very young age and is now in need of a life-saving double lung transplant.

The Bibb family needs an estimated $35,000 to pay for transplant-related expenses. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association is asking parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to explain the urgent need to raise funds for Children’s Organ Transplant Association in honor of Bethany and the importance of giving.

Please mark your calendar for “The Night of Giving.” This candlelight Christmas Cantata will be held on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the New Jerusalem Christian Center, 817 S. Eighth St. in Ironton.

There is no cost for this event, however, in the spirit of the holiday Bethany’s Buddies are asking families to give up one personal gift on their Christmas list and donate the cost of that gift to the COTA “In honor of Bethany Bibb.” By making this sacrifice, Bethany’s Buddies hope families will have the experience of knowing that they are actually giving something greater and more priceless — the gift of life.

One hundred percent of the proceeds will assist Bethany with transplant-related expenses. The names of the children that give will be displayed on our website as one of Bethany’s Angels.

For more information regarding these projects please contact Natalie Adams, event coordinator at 740-894-5202 or nadams95@zoominternet.net.

Anyone unable to attend this event and would still like to give a gift, donations may be made in person at any PNC Bank branch location using account number 6007679981 or mailed to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, 2501 West COTA Drive, Bloomington, Indiana, 47403.

Checks or money orders should be made payable to COTA, with “in honor of Bethany B.” written on the memo line of the check. Secure credit card donations are also accepted online at www.COTAforBethanyB.com.

Please contact Belinda Brown, campaign coordinator, at 740-533-0278 or lebrar@yahoo.com to ensure that your child’s name is displayed on the Bethany’s website.

Bethany’s family has asked for assistance from the Children’s Organ Transplant Association. The organization’s priority is to assure that no child is denied a transplant or excluded from a transplant waiting list due to lack of funds. One hundred percent of all funds raised are used for patients’ transplant-related expenses.