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Two churches recently donated to local nonprofits that financially aid those bravely fighting cancer.

Healing Chapel Baptist Church and Metropolitan Baptist Church have come together to make a cancer awareness ministry that annually fundraises to donate to charities that support those fighting cancer.

On Dec. 29, at Sentara Obici Hospital, Iyasha Edwards from Healing Chapel Baptist Church and Sharon Daughtrey from Metropolitan Baptist Church gave a check for $1,500 to Maya Holihan, the board president of Daniel’s Grace Charitable Foundation.

The cancer awareness ministry raised $3,000 to give away. To fundraise for the donation, the ministry sold masks and received a generous amount of donations.

“Every year, we do some sort of fundraiser to donate to an organization that provides financial help to people fighting with cancer,” said Daughtrey. “We wanted to give back, and we weren’t expecting such a nice contribution due to COVID.”

The $3,000 total was split evenly between two charities. Nobody Fights Alone is a program that helps those battling cancer at Sentara Obici Hospital with transportation to medical appointments, paying for utility bills and providing meals for the families. Daniel’s Grace Charitable Foundation focuses on helping cancer patients by easing the financial burden. The money is not just for hospital bills, but for rent, mortgage, utility and other bills.

“When fighting cancer, you have to put all of your energy into surviving, not how you are going to pay for your mortgage or water,” said Holihan. “This is what we stand for.”

Daniel’s Grace is based in Virginia Beach and was started by Jodi Newland after her first husband, Daniel, died of colon cancer. He was so overwhelmed and humbled by strangers who donated to help in their time of need that he wished he had done more when he could. That wish is the mission that fuels Daniel’s Grace Charitable Foundation. Today, the foundation provides financial assistant, college scholarships and grief support groups.

“I am a survivor, and this foundation blessed me,” said Edwards. “A lot of the big ones don’t trickle down to the local levels to the little people like us. I’m glad to be able to give back and pay it forward.”