By: Andrea Miller
Walton Tribune

MONROE - Emily White has been suffering through a traumatic brain injury, a severe knee injury and seizures since an August 2005 golf cart accident.

The first two months following the accident, White's body endured 23 hours of seizures per day. White requires constant medical attention and care as she has undergone four surgeries in the last four months. Her medical bills have already topped $1 million in less than a year, and there is much more care that she will require in the future. In addition, her pharmacy bill alone is nearly $7,000 per month.

IN order to help White and her family pay some of her medical expenses, the Family and Friends of Emily White Organization is having a ticket sale for a BBQ Dinner Plate from May 6 to May 31 with distribution of the plates taking place on Saturday, June 3, at the Angle Food Ministries lot in downtown Monroe on Spring Street from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"We hope to get a good turnout because we worked really hard to get this event together," White's mother Suzanne Miller said. "There has been a lot of people helping us put this whole thing together, and we really appreciate all they have done, as well as the people in the schools and the community."

The BBQ Dinner plate costs $10 and consists of one jumbo chopped BBQ pork sandwich, BBQ baked beans, Lay's potato chips and banana pudding. A professional caterer will prepare the entire meal.

Organizations that have partnered together on this event include the American Legion, the Kiwanis Club, Angle Food Ministries, Prestige Foods Corporation, Sysco Foods, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and St. Anna's Catholic Church.

The idea for the fundraiser came from Derry Drake of Prestige Foods. He said he has been working on community fundraisers and service projects since his college days.

"My company works extensively with non-profit organizations such as Parent Teacher Organizations and Booster Clubs to raise funds for schools," Drake said. "Our paths, Mrs. Miller and I, crossed because she, a teacher herself prior to Emily's accident, is PTO President for Monroe Elementary and when I heard about their situation, I suggested to hear that they "go all out" on a fundraising effort for White.

Drake's staff will prepare the slow-roasted, chopped BBQ and all the other fixings aboard his mobile kitchen that will be on site all day on June 3.

For more information, contact Miller at 770-266-6929 or Cassandra Clay at 678-201-8456 to find out how to help with this effort.