Golson family of Batavia founds charity

BATAVIA – Creating a tangible way to help young adults touched by cancer has proved a way for the Golson family of Batavia to make a difference after the death of their own beloved son at age 24 in June.

The late Jay Burger’s mother, Kelly Jo Golson, his stepfather of more than 20 years, Mark Golson, and siblings Luke and Sophie Golson formed a charity called Jay’s Hope in partnership with Advocate Health Care.

His mother said Jay was diagnosed shortly before he graduated from the University of Iowa with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare bone cancer that is considered a pediatric cancer and typically found in anyone from younger teens to young adults.

“We quickly realized that when you go through the horrible diagnosis at this age, you fall between the cracks – you’re not a child and you don’t have the services and support we see for … young children … and at the same time, you’re not full [independent] adults.”

So the Golsons stepped in to try to brighten the lives of college-age students and recent college graduates who have been diagnosed with cancer.

“We want to issue grants so young [people] can take a weekend trip or purchase those concert tickets and feel they have independence and have joy to do some of the things they want to do,” Kelly Jo Golson said. “I work at Advocate … we treat thousands of patients. I’ve been meeting regularly with our oncology group, and they’ve been helping me identify young patients that might be a good fit.”

She compared the tenacity with which Jay fought his illness to a warrior-like spirit.

“From the time he was diagnosed, he never lost hope that he was going to beat it,” she said. “My hope is that Jay’s Hope continues to flourish and grow, and, one day, we’re able to go beyond the grants and impact research to eliminate the horrible disease.”

A marathon runner, Kelly Jo Golson raised funds for Jay’s Hope in last month’s Chicago Marathon. She said friends of Jay were on hand to cheer her on in his absence.

And this fall, a football game at Batavia High School was the setting for a game T-shirt sale fundraiser for the charity.

Jay graduated from the school in 2010. His brother, Luke, a Batavia High School senior and defensive back on the football team, was made honorary team captain for the game, which included a moment of silence in Jay’s memory.

“Jay touched so many lives,” Kelly Jo Golson said. “His friends and his family were everything to him. To have that support, we just want to let everyone know how very grateful we are.”

For more information about Jay’s Hope, an Advocate Charitable Foundation fund, or to make donations or suggest potential recipients, visit advocategiving.org/about/jays-hope.