Community Corner

Super Bowl Sunday Super for Jacob

A fundraiser aims to help an Alpharetta family fighting double trouble of Down Syndrome and leukemia.

Jacob Moore's list for Santa was short and modest: some books and videos. Oh, and to be able to be home for the holiday and not in the hospital.

Born with Down Syndrome, 12-year-old Jacob has always spent a lot of time with doctors and therapists. But late in 2010 he was diagnosed with leukemia. Now, doctor and hospital visits are even more frequent.

Jacob's cancer has "put us in a whole other world," his mother, Heidi, said. Because of the chemotherapy, follow-ups, side effects and other medical issues, the family practically has two households: one at the hospital, one at home in Alpharetta.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That "other world" is also one of financial strain–not just things that insurance doesn't pay for, but loss of income to care for him and incidentals that add up quickly.

Enter Sam Scarborough of Loganville. Scarborough says he has lost about half his family to cancer, and about six years ago, he had the idea of helping patients and their families by raffling off something on Super Bowl Sunday. Every year since then, he, family and friends have raised several thousand dollars for cancer patients. In 2010, he says, he raised about $17,000 for a rectal colon cancer patient.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While cruising the website of the Rally Foundation, Scarborough said he came across Jacob's photograph. "And I just started crying," he said. His parents had raised a relative with Down Syndrome. It was a perfect storm of emotions.

To help the Moore family, the Scarborough and Friends Foundation – awaiting 501(c)3 nonprofit status – is raffling off a custom-painted golf cart on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, and will hold a

"It's going to be such a blessing and take away some of the burden," Heidi Moore said of the funds being raised.

Jacob sees no fewer than 17 specialists because of his conditions, Scarborough said. And because of the "chemo brain" phenomenon, in which patients lose mental abilities, Jacob has lost ground so painfully gained through years of therapy as a Down Syndrome patient, his mother said. After chemotherapy, he couldn't walk and couldn't go the bathroom.

"Nine years of therapy and in one instant, everything's removed," Heide Moore said. When Jacob was 10, Heidi had to start potty training all over again.

Scarborough aims to raise as much as $30,000 for the Moore family through the golf cart raffle, the golf tournament benefit, and other donations.

Andrew Bell of BB&T in Lilburn, who is selling raffle tickets for the golf cart and who says a "higher power put me and Sammy together," says the fundraiser puts things in perspective and "makes us grateful for what we have."

For more information about Jacob and buying a raffle ticket for the custom-made golf cart, click here.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Alpharetta-Milton