Family Walking from DL to WDW to Honor Daughter

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

 

Houston family walking from Disneyland to Disney World in honor of late daughter

Posted: Feb 08, 2015 10:12 PM EST

Updated: Feb 08, 2015 11:42 PM EST

 

Jonathan Cobb and his wife Jennifer -- along with their 3 kids: Jonathan, Jenna and Jaxie have been walking across the country for the past 7 months.

  

The Houston family is doing this in honor of Julia Cobb, or 'Ju' as they call her, who lost her life to Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of Bone Cancer, at just 8 years old.

 

"We cry a lot, we walk a lot, we eat less...sleep less," Jennifer said.

 

The Cobb's have had their share of heartbreak when it comes to Cancer.

 

Both Jonathan and Jennifer recently lost their mothers to the disease.  Jonathan himself battled Cancer before having to tell his daughter Julia that she too would have to undergo treatments.

 

"My husband had to be the one to tell her that she had Cancer at the age of 6...and nobody should have to do that.  So Ju was her nickname.  And he told her the first 3 letters in Cancer are 'CAN.'  And he said you do what you can do and let God do what you can't do," she said.

 

"Julia's response was quite extraordinary, there were no tears from Julia.  She said 'You need to pray Dad and I'll do my part,'" Jonathan said.

 

The Cobb's say Julia fought for a year and a half and even got a stem cell transplant that was nearly a success...but the Cancer came back.

 

"One of the Doctors said 'You know, Julia never got a Make-A-Wish trip and I said 'no' and he said 'Well that's not okay.  Let's send her on her Make-A-Wish.'  So we ended up going to Walt Disney World in Orlando and we had the best week of our lives," Jennifer said.

 

At the end of the Cobb's 7 day trip to Disney World, Julia woke up with a high fever.  Instead of going to the airport, they went to the hospital.  Julia passed on within 24 hours.

 

"We then formulated a plan that we feel was God-inspired to walk across America with Ju's 'CAN' message and just inspire other people, raise awareness for very underfunded pediatric Cancer that only gets 4% of money raised in this country," Jennifer said.

 

In Julia's honor, the Cobb's started walking at Disneyland in Anaheim, California last August.  Their final destination is Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

 

"I really hope we're that family maybe someone else will see and say 'Gosh they didn't give up, maybe I won't," Jonathan said.

 

"If that hasn't broken us, if we still can...so can you," Jennifer said.

 

You might be wondering how they're doing this with 3 little kids.

  

The Cobb's say they have a chase vehicle.

  

One parent will follow behind in their Suburban while the others walk.    

 

They do 25 miles a day staying in donated hotel rooms and the kids are 'road schooled' as they call it.

  

The Cobb's hope to reach Disney World by the end of May or early June.

  

 

http://www.myfoxaustin.com/story/28056583/houston-family-walking-from-disneyland-to-disney-world-in-honor-of-late-daughter

[Millermouseketeers MaryAnn 150]

I read this earlier. My heart breaks for this family.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

25 miles a day is a LOT of walking!! Usually by hiking standards, 10-12 miles a day is the recommended amount.

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

My heart also breaks for this family.  I hope this journey brings them comfort.

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

Heartbreaking and very touching.  I just cannot imagine that type of pain... no. would. I. ever. want. to.

 

I'll keep this family in my prayers.

 

It would be awesome to see, others join their walk... if only for a few miles.

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

Great story and Great family.

My eyeballs were sweating as I read.

I'll keep them in my prayers.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

An update - they're scheduled to finish out their trek this weekend...

 

 

Family walking from Disneyland to Disney World in honor of late daughter

Posted: Jun 18, 2015 6:03 PM EDT Updated: Jun 18, 2015 6:59 PM EDT

By David Williams, Digital Journalist

 

CLERMONT, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) - The Cobb Family is walking thousands of miles across the nation in honor of 8-year-old Julia Cobb, who lost her battle with cancer.  They're also raising awareness of pediatric cancer.

“We were inspired by our daughter, Julia, who's now our angel," said mother Jennifer.  "We'll be forever a family of six.”

Their angel passed away in October 2013 after battling Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer.

Julia's brother, Jonathan, said, “She was just a great giver. She taught us kids a lot about giving.”

Her last days were with her family on a Make-A-Wish trip, at her favorite place, which was Walt Disney World.

Jennifer said, “It seemed like God said to us ‘You know, you can take that trip. From one Magic Kingdom to the next. You can spread Julia's pixie dust. You can spread her “CAN” message.”

Their message, “JuCan… God can,” is a message of hope, endurance and faith.  That is why her family is walking 4,000 miles through 14 states.

“I hope we've inspired the world to never give up," said Julia's father, Jonathan.  "Never stop walking, no matter how hard life gets.”

The family is walking from Disneyland in California to Walt Disney World in Florida.

“I think one of the most rewarding parts of our journey, besides visiting families, has been feeling like we conquered the hardest part of the terrain, up front," Jennifer said, "which was the Mohave Desert.”

On the day they walk to the Magic Kingdom, Jonathan said he will be holding a Father's Day card Julia made for him.

“That says, 'I love you Dad,'" said Jonathan, as he held back tears, adding that he would carry the card as a testimony to his daughter and family, "That if God gives you a dream, He will help you complete it.”

With this family's finish line almost in sight, the Cobbs are scheduled to arrive in Walt Disney World this Saturday.  

Learn more about the Cobb family and their walk by visiting www.jucanfoundation.org or calling 888-995-8226.

 

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/29356346/family-walking-from-disneyland-to-disney-world-in-honor-of-late-daughter

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

I just can't imagine...  my heart aches for them.  Praying that they've gained some peace with this journey.

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

Great story.

Thanks for sharing.

Gotta go my eyeballs are sweating.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

They made it...

 

 

Family who walked from Disney to Disney arrives in Orlando

A family who set out to walk from Disneyland to Walt Disney World in the memory of a daughter and sister arrived in Orlando on Saturday. Julia Cobb died of cancer in 2013 after a Make-A-Wish visit to Disney World.

 

By Bailey Myers, Reporter
Last Updated: Saturday, June 20, 2015, 5:52 PM

 

THE VILLAGES -- 

 

They've walked more than 4,000 miles, from Disney Land to Disney world in honor of their daughter who lost her life after visiting Magic Kingdom.

 

Julia Cobb, 8 years old, lost her battle to Bone Cancer on October 29, 2013 after spending a wonderful day with her family at Walt Disney World.

 

"We should not have lost Julia to cancer. No father should have to watch his daughter die and go through pain and suffering," said Julia Cobb’s father, Jonathan.

 

After her death the Cobb family felt like they needed to do something to raise awareness about pediatric cancer.

 

 

Throughout their journey, family members have kept Julia Cobb (photo held up at right) in their hearts. Shown are Jonathan, Jennifer, Jonathan David, Jenna and Jaxi.

 

"We decided we needed to walk from one Magic Kingdom to the next,” Julia's mother, Jennifer Cobb said. “We can't go to Julia's Magic Kingdom just yet but we can go on a massive trip to encourage others and inspire others."

 

Almost one year ago the Cobb family, including their 13, 11 and 4-year-old children, slipped on their sneakers and hit the road.

 

The family from Texas traveled to DisneyLand in California, where they began their 4,000-mile journey across the country.

 

Over the course of their journey the family members went through several pairs of shoes as they hiked through Colorado snow and the Mojave desert.

 

Along the way they met with several families whose children are battling cancer, and they said meeting those families was the most rewarding part of their journey.

 

"We wanted to be her voice for millions around the world," Jonathan said.

 

Family members hold up a map that chronicles their incredible journey.

 

Jonathan is a cancer survivor. After seeing his daughter’s fighting spirit, the family decided to start the JuCan Foundation.

 

“Julia was always focused on what she could do. That’s why we always called her the ‘Ju-Can’ because she was always focused on the can part of cancer,” Cobb said.

 

After 320 days on the road, the Cobb’s can say their journey is complete.

 

Saturday, with “JuCan” on their shirts, and Julia’s final Father’s Day card in their hands, the family took the last few steps in their journey as they walked into Magic Kingdom.

 

"You know this was the last place we saw her. So it's sad that it's over but I know that it's time for the next phase of our journey," said Jennifer Cobb.

 

Now the family has made it their mission to continue their work with JuCan, Julia's foundation.

 

Lean more about the JuCan Foundation on the group's website.

 

http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/on-the-town/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2015/6/20/disneyland_to_disney.html