Tim and Jan Lantrip, owners of the “English Tea Room” in Covington, Louisiana held a “high tea” fundraiser for Kelly Kicking Cancer this beautiful Sunday afternoon. There was great attendance, and we were treated to a wonderful array of four exotic (at least to me) teas, and trays of scones with butter, lemon curd, sandwiches, chocolate dipped strawberries and other finger foods. I was stuffed by the end of the tea. Musical entertainment was provided by Glyn Bailey of Cruise Artistes International.
Many of the attendees were long time friends, neighbors, former neighbors, friends of Kelly Kicking Cancer, and a surprise visit from a long-ago friend of Kelly’s from Fontainebleau Junior High School who sang with Kelly in the choir. We also made some new friends including two young ladies who are currently being coached by Kelly’s former coaches at Mandeville Soccer Club (MSC). I made sure they knew of the Kelly C. O’Mahoney Soccer Scholarship, and what is available to them if they plan to go on to play collegiate soccer.
Tim spoke to the assemblage, and made a heartfelt point that brain cancer had affected him in a very personal way over the past several years. Several friends, relatives and his own accountant had fallen prey to the deadly disease of brain cancer. Up until a few years ago, Tim had not heard much at all about brain cancer, but now it is all around him. Unfortunately, statistically that is the case, as brain cancer is now the fourth most common cancer in Louisiana adolescents.
Tim invited me say a few words. I talked about our organization, how we formed it after Kelly was struck down so suddenly by an astrocytoma, how swiftly it progressed despite the best treatments available at the time. But I left the group with a message of hope with the new and advanced therapies and treatments I have learned about from the doctors at the Kenneth R. Peak Center in Houston. With your help, we will continue the fight against brain cancer (LarryO, Kelly's dad.)
