Jensen’s Heart of Gold Foundation supports local families with children fighting cancer

Jensen’s Heart of Gold Foundation supports local families with children fighting cancer
Registration is now open for 9th Annual Super Slugger Softball Tournament scheduled September 6-8, 2019
Did you know that there is a non-profit organization right here in your community that raises much needed funds for families who have a child fighting cancer?
Jensen’s Heart of Gold Foundation was founded by the Byrd family in 2010 after the loss of their 5 year old son, Jensen Daniel Byrd. Jensen was diagnosed with cancer at the age of two and fought for 3 long years succumbing to his disease on August 24,

2010 at the all too young age of 5 years old.
Survived by his mother Melissa, father Lynn, and sister Jayden, they knew they could not go back to a normal lifestyle. On average, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer each and every day. They could not move forward turning a blind eye to that. The incident rate of childhood cancer in their own community seemed alarmingly high. It became their mission to afford those families in their area who are on the same path, the opportunity to make memories with their child. Something the Byrd’s feel they did not have enough of.
The inaugural and cornerstone event of the charity, the Super Slugger Softball tournament, began as a way to commemorate one of the last and fondest memories the Byrd family had of their precious angel.
Melissa, founder and President of JHG, called upon her friends in the adult softball community to come together and play a double elimination co-ed tournament. She organized the event to name each team after a Super Mario character just as Jensen had done with them in their backyard only days before his passing. He did not let the pain deter him from living out the Super Slugger Nintendo game with his family in his back yard. He put his morphine pump in his new Luigi backpack that was intended for his first day of Kindergarten, a day he never experienced.
To their surprise, 22 teams formed and came together at that 1st Annual tournament. Melissa was overwhelmed and humbled by the turnout. The community had rallied in a big way. Fast forward to 2018 and the 8th Annual Super Slugger Softball tournament. 50 teams showed up from several different states this year on September 8 – 9. Byrd had to close registration three weeks early due to the volume of teams and the limited number of hours in a day!
The first year raised just over $8,000. JHG proudly announced to us that this year they grossed nearly $60,000 on that single event! They also proudly report that all expenses were covered with corporate and community sponsorships!
Since the formation of JHG, the Byrd’s have expanded into Central Florida with their Florida Chapter. Ran by Emily Pierce, their efforts collaboratively have raised nearly $500,000 in the last eight years and have assisted dozens of families in need. Emily, mother of childhood cancer warrior Morgan Pierce, met the Byrd family while both children were being treated in NYC at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The two families became fast friends and continue to honor Jensen’s memory together even through their own continued 10 year battle with childhood cancer.
September is childhood cancer awareness month. Gold is the color of ribbon that symbolizes that fight. If you want to get involved in your community to support the cause, visit www.jensensheartofgold.com for the many ways you can help spread awareness. Registration is also now open for the 9th Annual Super Slugger Softball Tournament on September 6-8, 2019.
Pictured:  Jensen Byrd; A Scene from softball tourney; Theodore Prive, who at four months old was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and spent 227 days straight at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Mobile. Theo is now home and continue daily low dose chemo until maintenance completion date on 8/31/2019.