The Instagram account, @big.a.memes, run by Bolles Senior Andrew Ruzanka ‘26, is a common page that shares funny memes regarding Bolles’ athletes and their opponents. His account is widely popular among students.
On September 1, Ruzanka made a more meaningful post to the account. Instead of posting memes taunting Bishop Kenny’s football team, Ruzanka sent out a video sharing a powerful message.
Ruzanka tells the story of his younger sister. She’s now 13, but when she was eight weeks old, she was diagnosed with leukemia, an aggressive form of blood and bone marrow cancer. “My family was absolutely devastated,” Ruzanka said. Ruzanka’s sister went through many treatments to get rid of the cancer.
While it was hard on his sister, it was also hard on Ruzanka’s family. Their family spent a lot of time at the hospital as she went through her treatments, “It was emotionally taxing on our family seeing her go through that,” he said.
As Ruzanka’s sister was still fighting, the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation stepped in to help.
The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, started by former NFL coach and executive Tom Coughlin, was created in honor of Jay McGillis. McGillis was a strong safety who played for Coughlin’s team at Boston College. During his time on the team, McGillis developed leukemia. He passed away 8 months later.
During McGillis’s final 8 months, Coughlin saw firsthand the physical, emotional, and financial strains the Jays’ family faced. After going through the tragic events with McGillis’s family, Coughlin promised himself that if he ever got the chance, he would create a way to help families whose children are battling cancer
Coughlin kept his promise and started the fund. For 30 years, the foundation has provided over $34 million in support to over 6,700 families in Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia, and the New York/ New Jersey area.
Ruzanka’s family happened to be one of the recipients of the fund. The foundation provided the family with emotional support as well as financial support to help pay for her treatments. “Me and my family are extremely grateful for what the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund has done for our family” Ruzunka said.
September is a particularly significant month for the family and the Tom Coughlin Foundation, as it is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.
Thankfully, Ruzanka’s sister won her battle against cancer and has now been cancer-free for the past 13 years.
To celebrate the cause and to thank the foundation, Ruzanka has organized a GoFundMe. All of the proceeds will go to the Tom Coughlin Foundation to help them continue to help other families whose children are battling cancer. Ruzanka believes it is very important to give back to the fund. “My sister would not be with us today if it wasn’t for the Foundation,” he said. Ruzanaka’s goal was to raise $200, but that goal was topped with a total of $616.
As this month comes to an end, be sure to donate to the GoFund me to help the Foundation help families in need.
Please donate here: https://ig.me/2X8yR2ARA5l5Qe3
Or go on Instagram to @big.a.memes and click on the Bio to donate now.
