Special to The Reporter

To encourage children being treated for cancer, the Marshall County Area Lions Club recently presented gifts to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Affiliate Clinic at Huntsville Hospital. Lions’ members Amy McDonald, Larry Bagley, and James McDonald presented gifts for patients and families on Thursday, June 26, 2025.  Social Workers Lily Mowery and Christie Gentry accepted the gifts.  

Ninety-three (93) gifts for the young patients included books and various toys, including Lego sets, games, action figures, dolls, toy vehicles and Pokémon cards.  Three (3) cards for gasoline were also presented.  When a patient is first diagnosed, the family travels to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, so the cards can lessen the family’s travel expenses.  Also presented were two child-sized quilts donated by the North Jefferson Quilters Guild and a box of over 2000 Pokémon cards donated by Green Brother’s Comics, Arab.

Each gift had a message attached, “We wish you the courage and strength of a Lion.”  Childhood Cancer is one of eight (8) global causes of the Lions Club which also include World Hunger, Vision, Environment, Diabetes, Disaster Relief, Youth, and Humanitarian.

The Huntsville Clinic is one of eight St. Jude affiliate clinics nationwide.  They see children weekly while the main St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis may see them 2-3 times per year.

Patient families may have other needs, including cost of household expenses.  Those who wish to help may contact the Clinic to learn more about how they can be of service.  

To learn more about the Lions Club, please go to the website, marshallcountyarealionsclub.org or call 256-677-9721.