Jett Reis. (Facebook/Java 4 Jett)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Java 4 Jett

‘Java 4 Jett’ raising money for four-year-old battling inoperable cancer

Feb 19, 2021 | 12:38 PM

At the beginning of the month, four-year-old boy Jett Reis and his parents Larisa and Manny received some life-altering news.

Jett was diagnosed with an aggressive and inoperable brain cancer, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). According to WebMD, only 10 per cent of children survive for two years after a DIPG diagnosis, and under one per cent for five years.

As Larisa and Manny look around the globe for clinical trials to help Jett, they are receiving help themselves.

Larisa’s cousin Chelsey Beres and five other family members, teamed up to create ‘Java 4 Jett’ fund. Pounds of coffee are being sold from Prince Albert coffee shop Dr. Java’s to help support the family, as both Larisa and Manny have stepped back from their jobs to look after Jett.

“All our hearts were just shattered. Jett is such an amazing kid,” Beres said. “We just want to be behind him, actually beside them, 110 per cent. We want them to know that they’re supported, that they’re loved and we’re willing to do whatever we need to, to help them through this stressful time.”

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Jett’s story has garnered a lot of support. As of Friday morning, over $95,000 has been raised on the “Jett Reis the Warrior Fund” GoFundMe page after being active for just over a week.

The GoFundMe, set up by Jett’s uncle Justin Reis, was made to help the family in their global pursuit of clinical trials for Jett, as well as other expenses.

The funds for the Java 4 Jett charity will help with everyday expenses the family will incur.

When she was thinking about ways to raise funds for Jett, Beres approached Dr. Java’s owner Brandy Mogg, as she goes there often and has seen that Dr. Java’s often gets involved with the community. As of Friday morning, Dr. Java’s has already sold 614 pounds of coffee for the charity, raising $6,140 for the cause.

Coffee bags being sold for Java 4 Jett. Facebook/Java 4 Jett

“Dr. Java’s is a place that my family and I frequent in Prince Albert. They are a very community-minded business, they’re always at community events and they really love to support the community,” Beres said. “So when I approached Brandy to ask if they were interested, she didn’t skip a beat and they were right on board—step by step with us throughout the way. They have younger kids, so they realized the importance of stuff like this.”

Every one-pound bag is $20, with $10 going directly to the Reis family. The names of the coffee are from Jett’s favourite show Paw Patrol and feature the catchphrases of two of the show’s heroes, Rubble and Chase. Each bag of Rubble on the Double Dark Roast and Chase on the Case Medium Roast bags also feature a small photo of Jett.

“He’s not a coffee drinker yet, but we thought we would incorporate something he loves to the coffee,” Beres said. “Jett loves Paw Patrol and who doesn’t at that age? So that’s where we threw in Rubble on the Double and good ol’ Chase on the Case.”

Chelsey is one of six organizers of Java 4 Jett. Her husband Chris, as well as her brothers Currie and Chad, and her sisters-in-law Lisa and Amber are also organizing and raising money for the cause. E-transfers can be sent to their emails, Chelsey and Chris Beres (ccberes@hotmail.com), Currie and Lisa Sorba (cas159@usask.ca) or Chad and Amber Sorba, (doney02@hotmail.com).

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW