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Family honors son with foundation
A Clifton family who lost their son to cancer two years ago is trying to turn the experience into a positive thing for others.James and Emily Anderson lost their 1-year-old son Bryce to leukemia and shortly afterwards began a foundation in his name to support families going through similar experiences.
They hope their first local fund-raiser in Clifton's park on June 7 will attract attention and support, James Anderson said.
Bryce died on April 10, 2006 after losing a battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that lasted for more than a year shortly after the family moved into the town. A bone marrow transplant from his little brother James Edgar and treatments at several different hospitals didn't save him.
During his illness, people in the Town of Clifton rallied around the family and James Anderson said now they hope to expand beyond that base of supporters with The Bryce Foundation.
The foundation currently donates Whole Foods gift cards to families at Georgetown University Hospital, awards nurses at Johns Hopkins University where Bryce was hospitalized for months and supports other nonprofits that accomplish their mission.
“I think it's wonderful that they are trying to turn this into something positive,” said David Smith, CEO of Special Love Inc.
The Bryce Foundation donated $1,000 to the nonprofit that supports families who have children with cancer in the Washington, D.C. area.
“The foundation is really our child,” Emily Anderson said, adding that starting the foundation has already helped them connect with other families who are suffering too.
“Bereavement is hard,” Emily Anderson said. “People don't know how to help, but we're hoping to attract people to come alongside us in this.”
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