"Cindy's Legacy" Pays It Forward

Stacy Brooks saw first-hand how community members want to help.

In the fall of 2010, Brooks' mother, Cindy Martin, was was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

During the Herndon hairdresser's illness, friends, friends of friends and even just people in Herndon and Reston Because Martin was a solo contractor, she had no sick leave or company disability insurance.

"When my mom was sick and I was her caretaker, we had a huge network and a huge family, and it was still overwehlming," says Brooks, 37. "There was prescription assistance, forms, documentation for disability. It was completely overwhelming."

Brooks has started a new nonprofit, Cindy's Legacy, to help area families in a similar situation. The group recently received a 501(c) 3 designation as a non- profit and will have a kickoff event Sat. Feb. 4 at noon at Thai Tada Restaurant, 1106 Herndon Pkwy. in Herndon.

"You look at my mother's situation, she was a hairdresser," said Brooks, a 1992 graduate of South Lakes High School in Reston. When you don't work, you don't get paid. There is no disability like at a corporate job. What came out of that experience is that people are sick. They need help. I could have used someone to help me fax forms and make phone calls."

Cindy's Legacy has raised a small amount of money so far, and Brooks said they have already given two small grants to local women who are ill so they can pay basic bills such as gas and groceries.

As the organization gets going, Brooks says she hopes to be able to offer support in both time (help with doctor's appointments, medical forms, administrative tasks, etc.) and money (cash awards to ease the financial burdens).

"Ideally, we want people to be able to pay a utility bill or their rent, even if they have to spend $1,000 on prescriptions."

"During her treatment, the only time my mom ever cried was when people were raising money for her," Brooks said. "We had overwhelming support from strangers. That kind of pushed me to do this. They gave us their hard-earned money. I want to be able to do this for others." 

For more information on Cindy's Legacy, visit www.cindyslegacy.org.