Community Gives Back to Claire

Friends and family, the holiday season, bitter, cold temperatures and the hustle and bustle surrounding the last few weeks of the year were on the minds of close to 80 people at the in Woodstock Tuesday. But all of those thoughts paled in comparison to the real reason why this particular group got together – to help a 3 year old and her family in the battle against cancer.

The GiveBack Foundation, a local charity assembled to help those who are fighting and living with cancer, held a live auction, wine tasting and dinner with all proceeds going to Claire Kitchen, 3, and her parents.

Claire was diagnosed with cancer in May after several sessions with her pediatrician left both the family and doctor searching for answers. She went through many rounds of chemotherapy before she was ready to undergo surgery to remove the cancerous cells from an area near her spine. With eight to nine hours of surgery behind her, Claire is enjoying a wonderful diagnosis – being cancer free.

"In my experience, there's nothing better anyone can hear," said Chris Anthony, one of the GiveBack Foundations' co-founders.

And he would know. Both he, and Mark Porch, the other co-founder of the organization have been touched by cancer. Anthony's father died of cancer, while Mark lived through the battle himself, as did many in his immediate family. From their experience dealing with this deadly disease, money helps, but it's not the only way to get involved with the GiveBack Foundation.

Tuesday's charity event, "It's Not About You" is just one of the many ways Porch and Anthony, with the help of their many volunteers, are helping the Kitchen family in their time of need. Tickets were sold for $50 which went toward a wine tasting followed by a three-course meal, prepared by Jamey Snyder and his staff at the Right Wing Tavern.

A live auction featuring prizes ranging from a weekend getaway to a South Carolina bed & breakfast to a Harley Davidson gift package and even a signed baseball from Hall of Famer and former Atlanta Braves pitcher Phil Niekro helped raise much-needed money. So did a plethora – more than 20 – of raffle items like gift cards to local area merchants mixed with some big-ticket items like a gas grill and another piece of baseball memorabilia, a John Smoltz autographed baseball.

The money from the event will go a long way, but the foundation doesn't stop there.

"We want to get down, get personal and get in the trenches with the families we help," said Porch who helps choose a local family dealing with cancer. In addition to time and money from the GiveBack Foundation, the Kitchen's have been touched by their kindness many other ways.

Porch told the story of a local heating and air conditioning company that didn't have the money to donate, but wanted to help. Porch was asked if the Kitchen's needed any heating work done at their home. It turns out they did, and the organization put the two together and parts and labor were donated to help the family stay warm.

There was another instance where a local automobile repair shop donated a set of new brakes to the family who had run their car ragged driving back and forth from the hospital.

"We like to be a little more involved," said Porch who said that the GiveBack Foundation finds a family, and "stays with them to the end".

When asked what constituted "the end", Porch said, "As long as they need us."

Until then, 3-year-old Claire has a few more rounds of chemotherapy to endure. The cancer is gone, but doctors need to make sure it stays away. And the Giveback Foundation will be there every step of the way.

"Miss Claire wakes up every day and just wants to be 3," said Anthony who acted as Master of Ceremonies for the evening. From the looks of things Claire is handling that very well.

Except for the cap worn by many chemotherapy patients, Claire spent most of the evening just like any other 3 year old. She seemed more concerned with the photos of herself on the big screen than the reason why this large group of people had assembled. She was disappointed that she only got to open one of the two early holiday gifts presented to her before dinner. That crisis – as it would be to any 3 year old – was averted by a change in the slide show.

"Look that's me and my jacket on TV."

The hardships, strains and stresses aren't as easily dismissed by a family going through a battle with cancer, Porch pointed out. And that's another area their foundation can help.

Since Porch and Anthony have both been personally touched by cancer, the fact that they can be a sounding board to the Kitchen family is a huge benefit. And they hopefully can turn that into a "Pay it forward" type of situation.

Porch said that his organization will be around the Kitchens for as long as it takes. Hopefully, when the Kitchens no longer need the GiveBack Foundation and the organization has moved on, the Kitchens will be available to the next family as another piece of the support group.

At least that's the plan according to Porch, who would like to see his charitable group help more families in the future.

"Someday we'd like to be able to help 10 families, pay their mortgage, say here," Porch said gesturing with open arms.

Until then, they're just going to put all their efforts into helping Claire and her family.