***February 2026 Update: Since we started this fundraiser almost exactly one year ago, Jon has undergone a third brain surgery, rounds of chemo and radiation, and a clinical trial, but unfortunately his brain tumor has grown aggressively and continues to spread. Jon is experiencing pain and cognitive challenges, and he and Ella are facing extremely difficult decisions. Time is limited.

There are multiple ways to support them during this time:

(Original Post Below)

To know Jon Beckett is to know joy. His joy is evident in his sunny disposition and steady reliance on God. It’s clear in his love of football and his appreciation of a sweet treat. Jon radiates joy when playing with his nieces and nephew and when spending time with his lovely wife. He brings joy to his job behind the TV camera, and he brings joy to his grandparents with weekly visits.

To know Jon Beckett is to also know brain cancer. Jon is an open book on the topic, always willing to share how being diagnosed with a Grade 2 Astrocytoma in 2015 has shaped the course of his life in both good and bad ways. He’s had seizures, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and side effects. He forged friendships in a brain cancer support group, and he met his beautiful wife Ella in a young adult cancer group that she was attending after surviving a bone marrow transplant for lymphoma. Neither imagined they would find someone who “got it” until they did.

Unfortunately, Jon’s second brain surgery revealed that his Grade 2 tumor has progressed to a Grade 4. This means it will almost certainly regrow more quickly and aggressively than it has in the past. This also means he likely qualifies for experimental treatment in a clinical trial being conducted in Bethesda, Maryland, by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Today, February 20th, 2025, marks one month since Jon’s second brain surgery and ten years to the day since his first seizure that led to the tumor’s discovery. So we figured it’s the perfect day to launch a fundraiser.

Jon and Ella have agreed to let us, their family, organize this fundraiser to help them navigate a myriad of expenses on the horizon. They plan to use this money to cover:

We are asking you, Jon and Ella’s community of friends, family, coworkers, prayer partners, and church family, to help us raise $25,000 by March 31, 2025. This will coincide with Jon’s planned return to work as well as with the beginning of clinical trial participation. As with all things in “cancer world,” these timelines and exact plans are precarious. If something with the clinical trial falls through, Jon will participate in the oral chemotherapy and radiation he has undergone before, which is still a long and difficult road to walk.

Whether you can give $5 or $500, every bit helps. It also helps to share this fundraiser far and wide, because Jon and Ella have touched many lives with their story and we know there are many people out there who would love to give if they knew about the fundraiser.

You can donate here, through GoFundMe. To avoid transaction fees, you can also Venmo Ella directly: @ellabeckett. You can also mail a check. If you don’t have their home address, reach out via the contact function here on GoFundMe and we will provide the information.

We ask you to join us in prayer for peace and clarity as Jon and Ella navigate the clinical trial and all the unknowns ahead. Of course, we also pray for healing and strength. Thank you so much!