One of those donors, and a volunteer at the fundraising dinner, was Debra Ridings. She said the whole church remains in awe of Jenna’s strength.

“She is an amazing person and has really put her whole trust in God to help her through this,” Ridings said. “I just can’t say enough about what a beautiful person she is, really.”

Immediately after finding out she had cancer, Phipps began writing a blog called “Trials and Blessings” to keep up with her experience. You can follow her treatment and read about her experience and strength by visiting jennaphipps.blogspot.com.

“I started a journal the morning after I found out I had cancer. I knew that one day I would want to look back on what I wrote and see how God had worked in my life, performed miracles and blessed me during this trial,” Phipps wrote at the top of her blog.

Other fundraising efforts have been ongoing throughout the community including the sale of purple wristbands and T-shirts that read, “Walking by faith not by sight.”

A fund in Phipps’ honor is set up at Bank of America in Tryon to assist with medical related expenses. Donations can be made to the Jenna Phipps Trust Account.