Cups for Mandy

A long time employee of the Gulfport Police Department, usually helping battle crime, is now battling brain cancer.
Mandy Woods has worked as a community relations and crime prevention specialist at the department. Her family tells News 25 Mandy started having stroke like symptoms the night before Thanksgiving and the very next day found out she had a brain tumor. The past few days have been a whirlwind for Mandy Woods and her husband, who also works for the department, meeting with oncologists, surgeries to remove pieces of the tumor. The medical bills are piling up. Her family has come up with a way to raise money with 30 oz. insulated cups.
Mandy’s stepdaughter, Kayla Bourque, tells News 25 Mandy is staying strong and gaining a lot of support from her co-workers and the community. “She is getting through this on the prayers from others. There are so many prayers that have gone up in her name. We’ve had so many people reach out and let us know that they’re praying for her. A lady from the police department had sent a Christmas tree to her room and so people are sending ornaments with prayers and encouraging thoughts on them. She is a fighter. She’s so strong and so positive. She’s just a really positive person anyway, so her positive personally is really helping out in her recovery.”
The insulated stainless steel tumblers will go on sale Monday at Things I Like and More on Highway 49 in Lyman. They are $20 each. All proceeds will go to the Woods family for medical bills.