OXFORD – Following the death of their long-time friend John Lobdell, Nathaniel Emerson and Tim O’Brien formed The Brody/Mason fund, a trust fund to enable Lobdell’s two sons to receive a college education.

In two years, they’ve raised a substantial amount toward the boys’ college fund thanks to the generosity of the Oxford community. Now in the name of their friend, who died after a prolonged fight against colon cancer, they are reaching into their own pockets to support two other local cancer-related causes.

“By working in the name of the Brody/Mason fund we are still working through the memory of John. I feel that this is what (he) would want us to do,” O’Brien said. “We are acting as a vessel to help raise awareness and to help families in need in the community that John knew and loved.”

One of the fundraising efforts they have chosen to support is the Weekend of Love for Carol, a two-day fundraiser to benefit Carol Loefstedt and her family. The Oxford woman was diagnosed with mantle cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in September, and is currently undergoing treatments at the Cancer Treatment Center at the Midwestern Regional Medical Center in Zion, Illinois.

O’Brien and Emerson have each anted up $150, which they plan to use to match other community donations.