He’s a bright, healthy 16-year-old Santa Barbara High School student. But, it’s a miracle that Brad Lilley, Junior is alive today. It was nearly a decade ago that the teen was diagnosed with leukemia.
What happened to Brad is every parent’s nightmare.
Brad Lilley is Brad Junior’s father. If the La Conchita man’s voice sound familiar, it’s because he’s a popular radio DJ in Santa Barbara known as Brad Jay. He’s worked as an announcer for the Dodgers, the Clippers basketball team, and at the last few Olympics.
Lilly and his wife Tara have three kids, two daughters and a son. They were all pre-teens when Brad Junior was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010.
Lilly admits the family was overwhelmed emotionally and financially at the time. That’s when a Santa Barbara-based non-profit focused on helping families facing pediatric cancer stepped up out of the blue to help. He says the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation paid for repairs for his car, which were need to get their son to and from the hospital. And, when Christmas came that year, the Foundation brought presents for the family.
Fortunately, Brad Junior’s leukemia was treatable. But, it was a three year long battle.
The Lilly Family was so grateful for the help it received from the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation it vowed to return the favor. Because Brad Senior is a DJ and announcer, he's hosted a number of events for the organization.
The Foundation serves families in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. The non-profit normally holds a series of fundraising events in September under its “Gold Ribbon Camapign” umbrella. The coronavirus crisis scrapped most of the events this year. But a benefit auction goes online Friday. Link to TBCF Auction: https://bit.ly/3i1QsjY
