DOUG AND Amy Garrett’s love for each other has spanned 27 years as of this past February, but the one thing that unites them more than anything else is their daughter, Bethany. After losing her to childhood cancer at just 8 years old, the couple knew they had to keep her memory alive and raise awareness for such a cruel illness.
Amy said, “Losing Bethany was the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced. It broke me into a million pieces, but I knew she didn’t want me to stay in that dark and painful place. I decided that I wanted to live with passion and purpose and be the kind-hearted person that she was.”
Amy was born and raised in Tullahoma, and Doug was born and raised in Lilburn, Georgia. After getting married, they helped open Applebee’s restaurant in Tullahoma in 1993 and lived in the Estill Springs area until they moved to Georgia, where Bethany was diagnosed with leukemia. After her passing, they decided to return to Estill Springs to bury her, and they’ve lived there ever since.
Amy said, “She truly demonstrated what the love of the Father looks like. Her compassion and empathy to love people right where they were, was a blessing to witness. God did not just send me a daughter. He sent us an angel.”
Doug expressed that at a young age, Bethany was an “old soul” and had a big heart for other children with illnesses. Before Bethany’s heavenly transition, Doug promised his daughter he would continue fighting for other ill children after she passed.
When people think of cancer-related illnesses, they often think of the pink ribbon, representing breast cancer. The father and advocate said Childhood Cancer Awareness only receives 4% of all government funding. People often don’t think of children battling cancer unless they come across St. Jude’s commercials or have lived through it.
“Unless you live it or you’re around it and see how violent it really is to a child, it’s hard to imagine. And it’s always resonated with me because I went through it.”
But The National Childhood Cancer Association is working tirelessly to help recognize September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
A few years ago, Doug came across a national high school football website that started its “Touchdowns Against Cancer” campaign and decided to start a campaign here in the community. Doug and Amy worked tirelessly with the Franklin County High School football coaches to make the campaign game happen every year in September.
Doug said, “It’s gotten bigger every year. The coaching staff is wholeheartedly behind it. The new athletic director, Kelly Kennedy, has really been a big help.”
On game day, they collect donations for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, hand out free balloon animals, offer face paintings to children, and paint the 50-yard line gold — the color representing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The coaches wear special shirts, and children and their families are honored on the field at the coin toss as captains for the night.
Childhood cancer hits close to home for numerous families in the county. Every year, 10 to 15 kids still fighting or in remission are honored. The next Touchdowns Against Cancer game will be September 22, 2023, against Shelbyville.
With Amy’s help, Doug continues to fulfill his promise to his beloved daughter and ensures all community families dealing with childhood cancer have the proper resources. A local child passed away a couple of years ago from childhood cancer but never received a headstone because it was not feasible for the family. Doug and Amy used some of the proceeds from the football game and bought them a headstone.
The couple also holds a car show, organized by Amy, at Russell Barnett Chevrolet, where football players hand out trophies to children who battled cancer or families of children who have lost to cancer. Half of the proceeds from the car show go toward St. Jude’s efforts and the other half toward the football team. This year’s annual car show takes place September 23, 2023.
Amy said, “Because of her, we honor children fighting the fight against cancer. We remember children who lost their fight against cancer and provide support for their families. We raise money to help find a cure for childhood cancer so no other child or family has to go through what we went through.”
With the help of Doug and Amy’s efforts to raise awareness, we can all do our part to help make a difference.
Doug said, “I’ve made a life decision to raise awareness and help those going through it. Until they put me down, I promised my daughter I’d fight to make sure people knew about it. I’m doing all I can do to honor that promise.” GN
