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Pay it Forward: Andrea Hudson & Paula Deal

138 views · Published 17 November 2015 · 2:58 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2015 · News & Politics

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A family that was facing a tough battle now has a bright future, thanks to the Pay it Forward spirit of others. 

Imagine in an instant your family's world is turned upside down.

That's exactly what happened to Wendi Bishop when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  

This wife and mother of three worried that her daughters wouldn't get the chance to go to college because of the financial burden of the disease.

Wendi says, "When I was 30 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It come as a big shock.... and thank God, almost 12 years later, I'm in remission."

Along the journey Wendi worried about her daughters' educations. That's until Bradley Central High School teacher Paula Deal and Lee University professor and head volleyball coach Andrea Hudson came along.
 
"A few years ago Paula nominated Emily for a scholarship called the Volley for a Cure, which is a local scholarship at Lee University that Andrea Hudson started, and that changed my girls' world," Wendi explains.

Emily was the first to earn 'The MaryEllen Locher Foundation' college scholarship and then last year, younger sister, Bayley learned she, too, would receive the award.

An annual Survivors Luncheon is underway on Lee's campus.

Paula and Andrea are inside and have no idea they're about to get a big surprise.

I count out $500 to Wendi who then makes the hand-off to Emily and Bayley who will Pay it Forward.

Inside the announcer begins the luncheon with an announcement.

"We are going to make just a slight adjustment right now to the schedule... If I could get Andrea Hudson and Paula Deal to please come to the stage?"

Emily and Bayley stand on stage to surprise the women in front of dozens of attendees. 

Emily tells the crowd that she was in the 4th grade when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and how it was such a shock to her family.

Extending her hand she tells her two 'life-changers', "On behalf of McMahan Law Firm and NewsChannel 9 we would like to Pay it Forward  to you guys. This is for ya'll to split, so thank you." 

The sisters count out the money and the Paula gasps, "Oh my gosh! Thank you!"

The audience cheers loudly as they make their way off stage.

Andrea and Paula both tell me that it is them who are blessed to know the Bishops.

Paula says, "I'm sure a million things were going through her mind about how her kids were going to grow up and go to college and so this is just something, a little something we can do to help."

Andrea adds, "We know that these families struggle financially when they have to go through these treatments, and, so to know that they can look at their children and say 'you still get to go to college because of a scholarship'. That means the world to me."

Emily is a senior in the Lee's University's Nursing Program and Bayley is a freshman majoring in Education. 

Their youngest sister, Callie, is a sophomore at Bradley Central High School and couldn't miss school for the event. She, too, hopes to go to college
and perhaps attain the same scholarship opportunity her sisters have earned.

Wendi says none of this would be possible without Andrea and Paula and their Pay it Forward incredible spirit.

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