Passion. Experience. Support.
I was inspired to start the MJ BE Foundation in memory of my father, Mark Jones. In 2014, my father was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer and given 6-9 months to live. He fought the great fight and lived an additional 16 months. While there were a lot of hard moments during those 16 months, I admired him living his life fearlessly and unapologetically. The moments and memories we shared are priceless. I am grateful to have been able to be by his side during the long nights.
What inspired me the most from this was his ability to BE who he needed to be during such painful and hard moments to pull through. He inspired me and I hope to inspire others to BE the version of themselves that gets them through their hard times.
The significance behind the name
The MJ BE Foundation’s name derived from my father’s first and last name, Mark Jones. This organization is in memory of him and will forever live through his spirit. It took months for me to finalize the name of the organization, heck maybe even a year. I struggled picking a name that described my father and our family’s experience. I tried picking words that I felt represented him through the process. I tried using adjectives and turning them into acronyms like BRAVE, FIGHT and HOPE, but nothing was sticking. After several months, I was having a casual conversation with a dear friend about my struggle with naming the organization, when I was given the great suggestion to just call it the MJ BE Foundation. BE representing ALL the things that he or I had to be during his 16 month battle with pancreatic cancer. For cancer patients and their loved ones, we encourage everyone to BE whoever they need to be during a time of uncertainty. Everyone’s experience will not be the same and everyone will not share the same feelings towards it and that is what makes the name of this organization fit so well. Remember, no one is expected to act or respond the same, so BE encouraged, brave, hopeful, inspiring, supportive, fearless, inquisitive etc. to get you through the hard time you may be experiencing.
“ Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future. Faith is the courage to dance to it today.” — Peter Kuzmic