Every eight minutes a young adult is diagnosed with cancer. On July 23, 2014, Byron Fair became one of those statistics. Yet, he found hope from despair. Now he gives that hope to others through the Fair Hope Foundation, which provides scholarships to college students fighting cancer.
“While we’re here on earth, we can spread hope,” Byron said. “It’s the easiest gift to give to someone.”
In school and pastoring a church when diagnosed, Byron realized that few scholarships existed for cancer patients. With in-state tuition equaling the cost of a month of cancer treatment, Byron dropped out of school. Yet, even while receiving treatment, he wanted to complete his degree and realized he wasn’t alone.
He recognized the need one day in the cancer center waiting room. Looking around, he noticed other young people and wondered what dreams they were putting on hold and what resources were available to fund those dreams. He found few, as most scholarships are available only to those in remission.
“I didn’t like that because I believe in hope for cancer patients,” Byron said. “People have dreams and desires, but there’s still hope, energy and fire, even for someone that’s in the valley at the moment.”
He decided to do something to help and founded the Fair Hope Foundation to support young adults affected by cancer.