Thumbs Up Mission Serves 1,000th Family With Cancer
In early February 2023, the Thumbs Up Mission organization served its 1000th family struggling with cancer. The family, along with many other families, were offered an all-expense-paid retreat to Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange, Ga., from Saturday, Feb. 4, at 12 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 6.
The trip was paid for in full by Thumbs Up Mission—a Christian organization dedicated to fortifying and supporting families fighting cancer through retreat opportunities. During the retreat, families with parents or children suffering from cancer were free to enjoy activities such as bowling, arcade games, and the indoor water park. Large buffet-style meals were arranged for breakfast and dinner, complete with a show from life coaches “Ronny and Donny.” They offered words of encouragement to the families and those inflicted with cancer. On Saturday night, the entire indoor water park was rented out solely for Thumbs Up’s guests. Sunday afternoon, they held a Bingo event complete with prizes that had the banquet room packed!
Instagram: @thumbsupmission
What is Thumbs Up Mission?
In 2012, a young boy named Keaton Coker had a seizure at church. Rushed to the hospital, his parents and family waited for the diagnosis to return and despaired when it did. It was brain cancer, and Keaton likely wouldn’t survive. He was 16 years old at the time. Against all odds, Keaton never despaired. Over the next two years, he continued to compete in football as an offensive linebacker, never missing a game for not “feeling good” – not even when recovering from chemotherapy. He stayed the course, never once wavering in his commitments to God or others until he passed away in 2014.
His family began taking steps to create a foundation in his honor but were without direction until a “friend of a friend” named Ashley was diagnosed with the same brain cancer that Keaton suffered from. Inspired by Keaton’s dedication and generosity even in the face of adversity, they gifted Ashley and her family a retreat for which the Cokers paid in full. Thumbs Up was built from this experience, steadily increasing until they could pay for several families to enjoy a weekend retreat.
Thumbs Up is owned by the Coker family, including Miles Coker, founder, CEO, and Keaton’s father, and Sharon Coker, co-founder, and Keaton’s mother. Both have an active position in the organization, organizing and attending every retreat and personally speaking to several of the families who attend. The Cokers have helped families and their loved ones who are struggling with cancer for over 8 years and will continue to do so.
The trip in early February marked the 19th retreat thus far, and with the 20th sure to take place in the upcoming months, now is the chance of a lifetime. If you know a family with a parent, spouse, or child suffering from cancer, visit the Thumbs Up Mission website and refer them for the next retreat. A weekend free to laugh and fortify their bonds with their family, others, and God may be exactly what they need!