Earlier this week, one of my former students Austin Thorpe lost his beloved mother, Melanie Ward, after a brief battle with cancer. Her passing came as an unexpected shock to Austin and his family, including his younger sister Arrianna.

Melanie had been furloughed from her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Austin was furloughed from his job as well, only recently starting a new full-time job in addition to attending school full-time at UCF to study engineering. Arrianna is working on going to school to become a paramedic. This is a very close, tight-knit family that has already been through a lot over the years, and these kids losing their mother has been nothing short of devastating.

All money raised here will be given to the Thorpe kids and used to cover any final costs for Melanie as needed, but also to provide them with financial assistance as they adjust to life without their mother now as two very young, independent adults. Any assistance you provide is deeply appreciated.