Young Boy’s Spirits Awakened by a Community That Cares
Derrin Mallory is only 15 years old. The young sophomore player from Roanoke Rapids High School felt drained one day after high school football practice.
His mother, Angela Mallory, thought this was just a normal feeling after a game and a heavy workout. A day passed and Derrin was still not feeling all that well.
She thought it was a good idea to take him to the doctor for a checkup. One test led to another and finally, after Derrin got blood work done in June, he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina is a small town with a population of about 15,000 people. CES Roanoke Rapids Branch Manager Joe Baird heard the devastating news and decided to do something about it.
CES Roanoke Rapids partnered with Discount Tire, Roanoke Rapids High School, local churches, friends, family, and the community – everyone came together to raise money for Derrin.
“We are a small community here and when some people need help, we all pull together,” Baird said.
CES Roanoke Rapids raised over $600 in the branch alone by raffling out Klein Tool Bags. Pass for the Purpose was among the other big fundraisers for Derrin. For every dollar given, participants passed one football across the field. The more passes, the more money raised.
Many college students and Roanoke Rapids High School alumni came back in town to help raise awareness for Derrin’s recent diagnosis. They volunteered to help the young athlete.
At the Pass for the Purpose event, there was food, football-fun, and an all-around sense of family unity and community bonding. Baird said over $3,500 was raised in total.
Virginia East Group Manager Jeff Cole mentioned that CES Roanoke Rapids is always dialed into community events and reaches out to lend a helping hand, especially for a neighbor like Derrin.
“Roanoke Rapids is a small town and for Joe and his team to take the initiative to help someone in need, speaks volumes for their sense of community and concern for others,” Cole said.
Baird added that every single dollar raised will help Derrin cover his treatments and was very pleased to see the overall community’s involvement, including his CES Roanoke Rapids employees.
“We are like a family here [in Roanoke Rapids] and we come together to help when there are those in need,” Baird added.