The Dunwoody community is reaching into their pockets to assist a terminally ill mother and her 11-year-old daughter, a rising sixth grader at Peachtree Middle School, with housing, food and money for living expenses.
Doctors have told Regina Cleveland, who has Stage 4 colon cancer that has spread throughout her body, that her life expectancy is six months. A group of Dunwoody residents, who have already secured housing for Cleveland and her daughter, Bella, want to raise $7,000 to help with medication, rent and living expenses.
“The little girl in this story is one of our own,” Erika Harris, one of the organizers, said. “Our community has always done such an incredible job of supporting one another in challenging times.”
Harris said after she posted on social media about Cleveland’s struggle to find affordable housing, a neighbor offered to rent her basement apartment. Now that the two have found a landing place, the group wants to expand to other needed areas.
“A few Dunwoody families are helping to organize a community fundraiser to help pay for Regina’s rent, make sure Bella’s needs are met, and be able to respond to other important needs,” she said. “We’d also like to help provide dinner a few nights a week to help Regina and Bella.”
Those wishing to assist have several outlets to contribute – through Venmo, GoFundMe and or a meal train. Venmo contributions should be made to Pamela Rittmans: @Pamela-Rittman
Those wanting to provide a meal can sign up for a night using Sign Up Genius. The site has details about the type of food that the two like and can eat.
In addition, a friend of Regina and Belle began a GoFundMe a few months ago. The site details Cleveland’s successful recovery from addiction, her dedication to helping others who are suffering a similar fate, and her journey after being diagnosed with inoperable colon cancer two years ago.
“Regina’s journey has been one of resilience and courage facing each day with grace and an unwavering spirit of hope,” the GoFundMe page said. “Just as Regina was on the cusp of launching a non-profit organization (after becoming certified as a Peer-to-Peer specialist) to support women in active addiction, fate dealt her the news of her diagnosis.”
According to the page commentary, Cleveland and Bella recently returned from a trip to Panama City Beach, supplied by the Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation, which gives children of terminally ill parents a chance to make lasting memories. Cleveland posted her gratitude on the GoFundMe page, detailing her overwhelming feelings while looking out onto the ocean with her daughter.
“God loves us so much to give this to us. [It] broke my heart wide open today,” Cleveland said in the post. “[Bella] is so humble and grateful to the bone. If this is my last vacation, that moment alone was worth it. Thank everyone so much for blessing us.”