Cameron Johnson

Cameron Johnson has one more week to give big.

The Roanoke man advanced to the final round of "Oprah's Big Give," a reality program on ABC hosted by Oprah Winfrey that requires contestants to help people in need. The contestants who best fulfill the show's mission to "give big" advance to the next round. Others are eliminated in "Survivor"-esque fashion.

All three of Sunday night's finalists -- Johnson, Brandi Miloy and Stephen Paletta -- advanced to next week's finale following the "Hometown Challenge," during which the contestants returned to their respective hometowns to find someone to help. The announcement that all three were coming back was made by John Travolta, who flew the trio aboard his private plane.

Johnson's Roanoke assignment was to assist the family of Skylar Corvin, an 11-year-old girl with bone cancer. Given $10,000 to spend on his challenge, Johnson instead asked several Roanoke-area businesses to donate time, products, services and money to the cause.

Johnson's primary objectives were to replace the Corvins' 20-year-old van, cover the family's credit-card debt and give Skylar's room a makeover.

No businesses were mentioned, but a Grand Home Furnishings truck was visible in one shot. Roanoke real estate agent Callie Dalton gave the family $5,000 to cover their rent. Roanoke interior designer Elaine Stephenson helped oversee the makeover. Johnson gave the family a 2007 Ford Fusion, which he said his father helped him obtain from a group of Ford dealerships. William Johnson owns Magic City Ford.

Skylar was also given a laptop computer, on which she maintains an online diary detailing her fight against cancer (www.skylarsvoice.com).

Cameron Johnson then gave the Corvins the $10,000 he had been given.

Near the conclusion of Sunday's show, Johnson told Winfrey the best part of the Roanoke challenge had been "to share this experience with my family and friends" who helped him.

-- Ralph Berrier Jr.