Ashford student lends helping hand

Tim James prefers to let his actions speak for him. The 18-year-old senior was a star on Ashford High School’s varsity basketball team this past season. His stature as a person, however, overshadows his athletic and academic accomplishments.

James used his athletic talents to make a difference in the lives of Jarrod and Marci Harrison and their three-year-old daughter, Hannah Grace. James took it upon himself to organize a benefit basketball game in March in the hopes of raising funds to help the family offset some of their travel expenses for the multiple trips that have to be made to Birmingham. Hannah Grace has been a frequent visitor to Children’s Hospital since an operation to remove a brain tumor was performed in May 2008.

Since that initial surgery, she has also undergone a bone marrow transplant and a stem cell procedure (using her own cells) in her fight with cancer and the infections that can occur during chemotherapy treatment.

The March 20 contest, which pitted a mixture of players from both the boys and girls varsity teams, was the second such gesture initiated by James. Following the tornado that struck Enterprise in 2007, James organized a benefit game to help those affected by that tragic storm. Through the support of the Ashford community, that effort raised $1,000.

Two years later, using that experience as a guide, James organized a second game for the Harrisons and Children’s Hospital.

“I just wanted to come up with a game this year to help the Harrisons,” the soft-spoken James said. “We raised a little over $1,200 for them.”

Those funds were divided between the Harrisons and Children’s Hospital.

“It was amazing what Tim did for us,” said Mrs. Harrison, an instructor at AHS. “I’ve never worked with him. For him to care enough about Hannah Grace, it’s just incredible. We’re here to thank Tim and to let people see that there are teenagers who care.”

“Throughout this whole ordeal, the community as a whole and individuals like Tim have shown so much care, so much compassion,” Jarrod Harrison added. “This is just another wonderful example of how they have given to us unconditionally.

“It has been such a blessing for our family.”

Denise Whitfield, assistant principal at AHS, was not surprised to see the effort put forth by James.

“Tim is an absolute star,” said Mrs. Whitfield of one of the basketball team’s leaders. “I’ve really watched him grow and mature from the time he was in junior high. He’s grown to be a man.”

Mrs. Whitfield noted that James literally took Hannah Grace’s story to heart.

“We had shared Hannah Grace’s story at school,” Mrs. Whitfield said. “She’s the school’s baby. Our students started giving their break money to help. Tim said there had to be more that could be done.”

There was.

“Tim put together the basketball game to benefit Hannah Grace and Children’s Hospital,” Mrs. Whit-field continued. “It all came from this child - this young man, Tim James. He literally took it upon himself to do the whole game.

“He has matured as a student, but, more importantly, as a person.”

Mrs. Whitfield added that the ball game served as an example of what dedicated young people can do.

“That day, during the ball game, the camaraderie of the players for a common goal was exciting to see,” Mrs. Whitfield said.

The efforts of James also made a lasting impression on Angie Sherrill, Southeast Alabama Community Outreach coordinator for Children’s Hospital.

“I am in awe of Tim James,” Mrs. Sherrill said. “We’re blessed to work with wonderful sponsors and businesses. It is a phenomenal thing that he, as an individual, has done. He’s done a wonderful thing to help a precious local family.”

The work of Tim James is far from over. The Ashford High School honor graduate will enroll in Enterprise-Ozark Community College on an athletic scholarship this fall.