Hello. I hope this is being read by Justin’s parents. I recently learned about Justin’s Beach House through my friend Tara Gates. Yesterday I made a donation via paypal, but it didn’t allow me to note the reason for the donation, and I wanted to share that with you.

Seven years ago yesterday, my cousin’s daughter Jennifer died at age 14 of a brain tumor. Jennifer was a bright upbeat honors student who was well-loved by everyone who knew her, and we all thought that her future was limitless. Had she lived, she would be preparing to graduate college this spring, and to move forward to wherever her dreams would take her. Her family, especially her mother, is still reeling from her death just one month after her brain tumor was diagnosed. You can see Jennifer’s pictures and read a little about her on the facebook page that her mom and sister set up to honor her — they know that if Jennifer had lived, she would have loved facebook and the opportunity it would have given her to stay in touch with her family and friends.

Jennifer loved the beach and the ocean more than anything. For years I have been looking for some way to honor her in a way that would be truly meaningful to her. By helping to make Justin’s Beach House available to families who are dealing with cancer, in memory of a wonderful young man who seemed to share many personality traits with her and who also died of a brain cancer, I can finally do something that we know that Jennifer would truly love.

If you have a mailing list for volunteers or potential volunteers for your fundraising events or for work that needs to be done on the house, please add me to that list. We’re raising our two granddaughters and so between the demands of an active almost-five year old and her equally active 15 year old sister, my time is often limited, but if there is an event where I can help or we can volunteer as a family, I would love to offer my time to help raise funds for the Justin Jennings Foundation. We will also participate in as many activities as we can.

Thank you for honoring your son in such a beautiful and giving way.

Leslie Vincent-Martinez