Event to Support Family of Girl with Cancer

There will be plenty of activities, including a 5K run, taking place on Saturday in Norton to honor the memory of Attleboro resident Leah Fernandes, who died last year at age 5 from brain cancer, and to support causes, including cancer research and the family of a 3-year-old girl recently diagnosed with a kidney tumor.

Lia Scagnoli, daughter of Peter and Tara Scagnoli of Norton, was recently given her diagnosis and will soon undergo surgery and treatments.

"We hope it can help ease their minds just a bit," event co-organizer Kate Tracy said.

A team will be running in honor of Lia and selling orange team bracelets for $5 to support the family.

Peter Scagnoli said his daughter knows about the team supporting her. 

"She will often ask, 'Mama, can you tell me again about all of the people that are thinking about me?'" he said. "This is as comforting to her as it is to our family. Our gratitude is immense for your continued support and thoughts."

The annual event began last year, two months after 5-year-old Leah died from an aggressive form of cancer called medulloblastoma. Tracy and Sally Junkins, friends of the family who organize the event, felt the need to help because they both have children close to Leah's age.

"The motto of the Leah Fernandes Memorial Fund is 'Helping Families and Funding Research," Tracy said. "What parent wants to leave their child's side while they are in the hospital? None. How many have to just to ensure that there is money for bills and basic necessities? More and more every day. It is the mission of the Leah Fernandes Memorial Fund to help families with basic needs so they don't have to worry about leaving their child."

She continued, "We want to give them at least a small amount of comfort knowing they don't have to worry about the electric bill, or the water bill, or even the gas to get back and forth to the hospital."

The race will start and end at J.C. Solmonese Elementary School in Norton. It will begin at 9:30 a.m., with registration opening at 8 a.m. The route is a mix of flat and slight inclines. A kids fun run and motorcycle ride will follow.

Family Fun Day activities will start at 11 a.m. There will be vendors, sack races, face painting, football toss, ring toss, egg spoon runs, a bounce house, an inflatable basketball toss with two hoops for competition, hula hoop competitions and music by DJ Steve Bishop. 

"It is so important to raise awareness for this," Tracy said. "Not only for brain cancer, or kidney cancer, but for all cancers ... The more awareness we bring and the more funds we raise, is all the more research that can be done to help eliminate cancer." 

Tracy said an estimated 13,400 children between the ages of birth and 19 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer this year.

The goal is to raise $10,000 this year through a combination of community sponsors, raffles and donations.

"Last year our community rallied around the Fernandes family to help them, and the outpouring was amazing," Tracy said. "It is our hope that the same outpouring of support will continue year to year."

Online registration for the race is closed, but runners can register on the day of the event beginning at 8 a.m. The participation cost is $30. For more information and to make a donation, go to www.leahfernandesmemorial5k.com.

All children who wish to participate in the fun run must be registered. No pre-registration is necessary for the motorcycle ride. Motorcyclists will meet at 9 a.m. at Honey Dew Donuts. Registration is $10 per bike the day of the event. There will be no additional charge for passengers. The ride departs at 10:15 a.m. and ends at J.C. Solmonese. For more information, call Billy Whitten at 1-978-833-2209.

One of Leah's friends is organizing a clothing drive called Leah's Locker to benefit New Hope shelter in Attleboro. Gently used men's, women's and children's clothing will be accepted at the event.