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Fundraiser helping girl who inspired Georgia medical marijuana bill

A Georgia family making preparations to move to Colorado is getting fundraising help as state lawmakers debate a medical marijuana bill.

The family of Haleigh Cox is relocating to Colorado so the 4-year-old can get medical marijuana treatment for a severe seizure disorder.

Haleigh is the namesake for “Haleigh’s Hope Act”, a law that would allow cannabis oil to be used in Georgia under tight restrictions.

Now the organization that helped raise thousands for Tripp Halstead, a child seriously injured by a fallen tree limb, is trying to help the Cox family move to Colorado.
Ride to Give hopes to raise $12,000 for Haleigh by Feb. 9. As of Friday afternoon, organizers had collected about $2,200 in donations.
The Cox family is waiting for Haleigh to stabilize enough for travel and then she and her mother will move out West, while her father remains in metro Atlanta.

“We are holding this "Flash Fundraiser" to raise the funds needed to get the Cox family to Colorado and also make it possible for Brian to travel a few times a month to see his family,” organizers said on their website.

ATLANTA —
Channel 2's Lori Geary traveled to Colorado with the state Rep. Allen Peake, who sponsored the medical marijuana bill.  Peake met with Georgia families who have been split in half so their children can receive treatment that many called life-changing.

Ride to Give collected $180,000 to help the Halstead's cover expenses while Tripp underwent extensive medical procedures for a traumatic brain injury.

Dave Nazaroff created the nonprofit then rode a bicycle 900 miles from New York to Georgia to raise money for the Halsteads and another charity that renovates homes for children with illnesses and special needs.

"Haleigh does not have months. Ride to Give has been following Haleigh's story closely and feels now is time to step in and help save her life," the website said.

Ride to Give is asking others to contribute through its fundraising site available at this link.

WSBTV

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