In the face of hardship, one Bloomington family is turning their experience into hope for others.
RE/MAX Rising in Bloomington will host a special event Friday, Aug. 9, to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a cause that has become deeply personal for organizer Jennifer Johnson.
The event, a music bingo night, will be held at 1015 Ekstam Drive, starting at 6 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Joel Ramseyer from Twin City Trivia will be hosting the event alongside Megan Fitzgerald, who works with St. Jude for fundraising. Participants can pay a suggested donation of $25 to join in the fun, with additional fundraising activities including a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle.
The fundraiser is more than just a community event for Johnson; it is a tribute to her family's journey through a challenging year and a half.
"I just want to raise money to help all the families and the kids that are not as fortunate," Johnson said.
Jennifer and Jeremy Johnsons' child was diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer, and while the journey was fraught with challenges, the outcome was ultimately positive. Their child Jacob is now cancer free.
"It was like winning the lottery. It was the best day ever," Johnson said.
The idea for this fundraiser also stems from the Johnsons' longstanding support for St. Jude.
"I’ve always been a big supporter," she said. "I always felt that it was unfortunate that any child should have to have cancer, and I just want to raise as much money for that as possible."
In addition to the music bingo night, Johnson emphasized that donations to St. Jude are always appreciated.
"They help families out with bills and hotel stays so that none of the families will have to see any bills from all the medical issues that incur when a child goes through cancer," she said.
Reflecting on their family's experience, Johnson noted, "It was incredibly stressful... just the journey of it, a year and a half later, but we’re good. We have a good outcome. And I just am very thankful for that."
This gratitude has inspired her to give back, fostering community support for a good cause—a powerful reminder of the difference one person, and one community, can make.
As she and her family look to the future, Johnson hopes to make this fundraiser an annual event.
"I would love to do this every single year and make it bigger and better every year," she said.
