Our Story
The Matagorda-Brazoria Cancer Assistance Program (MBCAP) was founded in 1993 when the classmate of a cancer patient became aware of her condition. Katie Sampson, the classmate of Wanda Floyd, received a phone call from her mother informing her that Pastor A. H. Floyd’s wife had been diagnosed with cancer. Her immediate response was to turn to prayer for her classmate and to ask God for guidance and direction on what she could do to help Wanda and other cancer victims in the community.
Katie conferred with her husband and began to make phone calls to key individuals in the community that could help her organize and launch a program to aid the local cancer victims. One of her first calls was to Sam Williams who gave her a list of names to call including Pastor Kenneth Bree, Sr. and The Minister’s Alliance. The inaugural meeting of the group that was formed from this list was held on October 15, 1993 at El Chico Restaurant in the Brazos Mall located in Lake Jackson, Texas. Attendees at the meeting were Rev. L. C. Dews, Katie Sampson, Lee Sampson, Delores Brinkley and Johnnie Bell. From this meeting, the process of organizing and electing officers was initiated.
The first fundraiser for this nonprofit organization was a fish fry held at the late Deacon and Sister Otis Petteway, Sr.’s property in Cedar Lake, Texas. This fundraiser was very successful and got the organization off to a great start. Fundraising has subsequently expanded to include raffles, banquets, and annual musicals.