Community Rallies To Help Educator Diagnosed With Dementia

CANTON, GA -- Brandon and Paige English are known throughout Canton as educators dedicated to serving students in the Cherokee County School District.

Chances are that if you don’t know who Brandon and Paige are, then you are most likely familiar with Paige’s dad, Robert Wofford.

Wofford is a former Cherokee County School Board member and retired from the school district as assistant superintendent of personnel.

The Englishes are both teachers in the community: Paige serves as an educator at Teasley Middle School and up until recently, Brandon was employed as a physical education teacher at Sixes Elementary School.

Brandon English's service to the community's youngsters has been temporarily halted, as he was recently diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), a rare form of dementia which effects people of all ages.

With the devastating news on the minds of those who know the family, the Sixes, Teasley and Knox Elementary school communities all came together to organize a benefit for the English family.

Funds raised during the event will be used to help the English family pay for the cost of caring for Brandon. It was also used to raise awareness for FTD.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, the nerve cell damage caused by the disorder "leads to loss of function in these brain regions, which variably cause deterioration in behavior and personality, language disturbances, or alterations in muscle or motor functions."

Cherokee High School student Emily Shelton assisted with the benefit as part of her senior project. On Oct. 22 a Family Fun Run and Chili Dinner was held at River Church on Sixes Road in Canton.

Boosterthon, Inc. set up its fun-run course and people of all ages ran for fun and to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Afterwards, a chili dinner was served and a prize raffle was offered. Those who entered the raffle won great prizes like a weekend cabin getaway, tickets to various sporting events and gift certificates to many local restaurants.

At the end of the evening, more than $9,000 was raised on behalf of the English family.

"But more importantly, the community came together to show support for a family and a man who has meant so much to so many," a statement from Sixes Elementary School Principal Cindy Crews said.

Photo 1: Paige and Brandon English
Photo 2: Brandon English running for health and fun. Also pictured, CCSD Director of Maintenance Ronald Barnes with his grandson.
Photo 3: Brandon English with many of his Sixes family
Images via Cherokee County School District