Family creates foundation in honor of cancer victim Danford

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Family and friends of a Menifee woman who passed away last month at age 36 have established a foundation in honor of her love for children and animals and her passion for helping others.

Stacia Ann-Ranee Danford died on Feb. 15 after an eight-year battle with breast cancer, an additional rare form of cancer, and leukemia. She lived almost her entire life in Menifee and has been remembered by many family members and local residents with donations in her name. Donations of food and supplies to local animal organizations continues.

In addition, those close to Danford have formed Stacia’s Brite Little Something, a foundation created to assist children with cancer. The foundation is in the process of applying for 501c3 nonprofit status.

“Stacia refused to be defined by cancer,” said Stacey Williams, her aunt. “She had the strongest will to live and go on with life the best she could. She taught us all how to love and care for others with courage and dignity, even in the face of all her health challenges. A testament to strength and grace, Stacia fought through it all and showed us all how to be a beautiful person.

“Stacia loved all animals of all types. She adopted her two dogs, Pebbles and Coco, and her cat Pumpkin. She also loved and connected with all the family pets. This is why the first act of kindness was chosen [as] donations to local shelters. “

Every month will have a theme, Williams said. April’s theme is “Acts of Kindness.” Details about the Brite Little Something Foundation and donations to animal organizations can be found on the Brite Little Something Facebook page.

Stacia was born Nov. 8, 1984 with a twin brother, Steve Vaughn. The family moved to Menifee in 1989. She attended Chester Morrison Elementary School, Menifee Valley Middle School and Paloma Valley High School, graduating in 2002. Stacia played AYSO soccer and Bobby Sox softball, competed in karate, learned to play piano, and was a Daisy and Brownie in Girl Scouts, her aunt said. She also loved riding her horse Tammy in the hills surrounding Menifee, and she competed in local horse shows.

After graduating from UC Irvine with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Stacia reconnected with a high school classmate, James Danford. They were married on May 26, 2012 at Monteleone Meadows in Murrieta.

In September 2013, Stacia was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. In 2014 she went into remission for almost two years before the cancer returned at stage 4. She was also diagnosed at that time with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), a predisposition to a wide range of cancers. After years of fighting the disease, undergoing multiple surgeries and more than 100 chemo treatments, Stacia was diagnosed with leukemia this January.

Four weeks after being admitted to the City of Hope in Duarte, Stacia was told she had beaten leukemia. But the devastating toll on her immune system left her susceptible to a rare fungal infection in the lungs that ultimately took her life.

“My niece was an amazing young woman,” Williams said. “She inspired so many people with her strength and grace while undergoing cancer treatment since being diagnosed in 2013. She had such a kind and pure heart, she never met a stranger, she made many friends on the internet, and we have numerous stories of her selflessness. Just by being herself, she has inspired a huge outpouring of love and selflessness from everyone who knew her or people who have heard of her.

"Stacia always wanted to do things for children who were affected by cancer. She also loved animals. She also reached out to the homeless. A lot of people in town knew her. The outpouring has been unreal. She touched so many lives."

Husband James Danford and Stacia’s parents, Menifee residents Steve and Stephanie Vaughn, are organizing the Brite Little Something Foundation. Meanwhile, they have put out a request for donations of dog and cat supplies for local shelters. In response to previous social media posts and word of mouth, the family already has collected more than 500 cans of wet cat food; 518 pounds of dry cat food; 200 cans of wet dog food; 652 pounds of dry dog food; 328 pounds of cat litter; 89 cat toys; 113 dog toys; and many other supplies.

This Saturday, the donated supplies will be distributed to three area animal organizations. Residents may donate additional supplies at one of those sites at the following times on Saturday:

Retrievers and Friends, 26510 Murrieta Road, Menifee: 2 p.m.
Passion for Paws, 28930 Ellis Ave, Menifee: 10 a.m. to noon
ARE, 101 E., Florida Ave, Hemet: 12:30-1:30 p.m.

For more information about the Brite Little Something Foundation, email Staciasbls@gmail.com.