HAMPTON, Va. - It's a 30-year love story that not even death can conquer.
This Valentine's Day, Chauncey Brown of Hampton is celebrating his love for his wife by raising money to fight the disease that took her.
Malinda Brown passed away in July of 2016, Chauncey says. 20 months after she was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, the same cancer that took Beau Biden, U.S. Sen. John McCain and other well-known names.
“She was always cheerful. The places she went for treatment, they remember her even today," said Brown.
In his wife's honor, Brown founded the Malinda Brown Foundation for Brain Cancer Research.
The foundation holds a celebration and fundraiser each Valentine's Day.
“We celebrated our love every day but Valentine’s Day was a special day," said Brown. "It’s like the continuation of the love story between Malinda and I.”
The first two events raised about $2,500 each, Brown tells News 3. Last year, it grew and brought in more than $6,000.
“We were able to give donations to three organizations," he said.
The organizations, University of Virginia's Emily Couric Cancer Center, a co-pay assistance foundation and the American Brain Tumor Association, all touched the Brown's lives in some way.
This Friday, marks the fourth annual fundraiser, with this year the theme is 'Love Never Dies'. Brown says he'd like to raise $10,000 in memory of a person who brought so much to so many.
“Our symbol is a yellow butterfly. I [described] her as a person with a yellow butterfly spirit because she was always cheerful," Brown recalls. "Right after she passed…It was in the summertime and I was visited by a yellow butterfly every day. It would flitter around me and I just took that as her spirit.”
The fundraiser runs from 7-10 p.m. at the Hampton Marina Hotel in Downtown Hampton. Tickets are $50 with all proceeds going to the Malinda Brown Foundation for Brain Cancer Research.
News 3 anchor Jessica Larche is the emcee.
Click HERE for tickets and other information about the event and donation opportunities or call Sharlene Tate at (757) 320-9403.
