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It started with a simple question: How can we help them? It became an international movement called NEGU: Never Ever Give Up. When Jessica Joy Rees was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at age 11, she chose to focus not on herself but on bringing joy and hope to other children suffering from cancer.
During the ten months she battled cancer, she and her family worked in the “Joy Factory” (originally their garage) making JoyJars®—packages filled with toys, games, and love for other kids with cancer. Jessie first handed them out personally at the hospital where she was being treated, but the effort blossomed quickly and there were soon thousands of JoyJars® being distributed across the United States and to over fifteen countries. Today, more than 100,000 kids have received JoyJars®, and they continue shipping each week to kids in over 200 children’s hospitals and 175 Ronald McDonald Houses.
Jessie lost her battle with cancer in January 2012, but her message lives on in the Jessie Rees Foundation, which has become a beacon of hope for families fighting pediatric cancer.
Join the movement at negu.org.
Erik Rees
For over 15 years, Erik Rees helped people discover and direct their God-given S.H.A.P.E. at Saddleback Church. After the loss of his twelve-year-old daughter Jessie to cancer in 2011, Erik used his pain to help other families and is the CEO of the Jessie Rees Foundation. Through Erik’s leadership, Jessie’s mission to encourage every kid fighting cancer to “Never Ever Give Up” is becoming a reality. He and his wife, Stacey, live in Orange County, California, with their children, Shaya and JT, and their two dogs.
More by Erik Rees
Jenna Glatzer
Jenna Glatzer (www.jennaglatzer.com) is the award-winning author of 25 books for grown-ups and kids, including the authorized biography Celine Dion: For Keeps, The Marilyn Monroe Treasures, Never Ever Give Up: The Inspiring Story of Jessie and Her JoyJars with Erik Rees, Unthinkable with Scott Rigsby, and Bullyproof Your Child for Life with Dr. Joel Haber. Her daughter is in third grade. Jenna is afraid of roller coasters, but has always liked riding Ferris wheels.
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