FORT WAYNE — September is Childhood Cancer Prevention Month and a local family is helping the community come together to spread awareness and raise funds for this important cause.
On Friday, September 17, the Jovevski family, with the help of Eel River Elementary, will host the first annual Emmy’s Evening of Hope at Huntertown Park from 5-8pm.
The creation of this event was inspired by Emily Jovevski who was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma at age 14 and fought bravely against cancer for five years.
“Emily dreamed of becoming a pediatric oncology nurse to help children with cancer and so we continue to raise awareness and funds for more research in honor of her dream,” said Jodi Jovevski, Emily’s mother.
“Because childhood cancer research is consistently underfunded, it was important for us to do this in hopes that we can help fund research that will lead to better outcomes and treatments for children everywhere.”
Emmy’s Evening of Hope is a free community event open to anyone in the community who is passionate about fighting childhood cancer. The event will feature live music from the Way Back Boys and games and activities for children.
Food trucks from Chick-fil-A, Rusty’s Ice Cream, and a’Roma Pizza will be available between 5pm and 8pm. There will also be a large silent auction.
All funds raised through the event will benefit Gold Together, the American Cancer Society’s childhood cancer initiative. Over the past four years, the Jovevski family has raised more than $40,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Gold Together movement through Northwest Allen County Schools’ Relay For Life.
“We look forward to a great event and hope the community will come out to support these brave children everywhere and be a voice,” said Jovevski. “We look forward to honoring Emily and all the families in our community who have endured this terrible disease.”
More than 15,500 children and adolescents in the US will be diagnosed with cancer this year, the leading disease-related cause of death for children and adolescents ages 1-19 in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society currently invests more than $34 million in specific childhood cancer research and supports families of children fighting cancer every step of the way by providing information, support services and advocacy.
For more information about childhood cancer or Gold Together, call the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345.
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