Thumbs Up Mission hosts first retreat for families dealing with cancer - Gainesville Times

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Thumbs Up Mission hosts first retreat for families dealing with cancer

Nonprofit organization founded in Keaton Coker's honor

Miles and Sharon Coker show a collage of their son, Keaton, who inspired them to start Thumbs Up Mission in his honor. Keaton died in July 2014 after a two-year fight against brain cancer. A couple of months after Keaton’s death, the Cokers founded the nonprofit organization to help the families of adult cancer patients. The nonprofit had its first retreat in May at SharpTop Cove resort in Jasper. - photo by Erin O. Smith

0726FOUNDATION 0002 — Miles and Sharon Coker show a collage of their son, Keaton, who inspired them to start Thumbs Up Mission in his honor. Keaton died in July 2014 after a two-year fight against brain cancer. A couple of months after Keaton’s death, the Cokers founded the nonprofit organization to help the families of adult cancer patients. The nonprofit had its first retreat in May at SharpTop Cove resort in Jasper. - photo by Erin O. Smith

“Cancer is kind of like a hurricane,” Miles Coker said. And the 53-year-old father of three boys knows what he is talking about from first-hand experience. He was devastated when the doctor uttered the six-letter word in 2012.