Help Jay Whalley Fight the Ultimate Battle

Friends and Colleagues,

It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I share some very difficult news regarding our dear friend and colleague, Jason Whalley, who has been recently diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer. For the last several years Jay has been battling illness off and on, and recently received this devastating news. While this diagnosis means the end of Jay’s time working here at Freetown, it marks the beginning of a battle that Jay and his wife Sheila must and will meet head on.

Jay has been a key member of the Ashland Freetown family for over 7 years, and has played a critical role in ensuring the safe operation of the boiler plant and plant operations overall. Throughout his career Jay has been a constant in the boiler house, a determined, skilled, and dedicated boiler operator. Despite a position where he most often works alone, Jay’s easy-going personality made the times working alongside him not only easy, but truly enjoyable. Jay’s hard work, dedication and presence will be sorely missed and difficult to replace in the boiler house.

At 53 years old Jay had planned to carry on his career with Ashland for many more years until retirement. Though those plans have changed, we aim to show Jay that he will not be forgotten, and Ashland Freetown will always be here for him and his family! As Jay and Sheila begin this fight against this terrible disease, I ask that we all show our support for our friend and colleague in any way we can. For those able to donate, this GoFundMe page will serve the purpose of collecting those charitable funds that Jay and Sheila will most certainly need assistance with during Jay’s treatment journey and overall care.