The third annual Grace Bowen Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 2, 2018 was a huge success thanks to the community and organizers.
Grace died at the age of nine-years-old on March 13, 2015 after a battle with osteosarcoma cancer.
Her fight, strength and personality captured the heart of every person she met along her tragic journey.
Approximately 900 people came out on Saturday and raised approximately $16,000 for the fight against childhood cancer.
Grace’s mom, Andrea spoke to Today’s Northumberland early on during the day as the festivities took place at the Grafton arena.
Close to 200 players came out and played ball hockey throughout the day starting early in the morning.
And many, many other events were happening inside and outside the Grafton arena for children of all ages to participate in.
Fluke Craft was on site helping people make garden stones.
Bowen said the event has grown each year with the extraordinary help from the committee and the community who comes to support it and have fun each year.
“I’m thrilled and beyond humbled and grateful for this.”
A number of things stood out as everyone came together for a common cause – love and fun.
“And that’s Grace,” said Bowen.
As the day was starting Bowen spotted a ball hockey team that she didn’t know any of the players or parents.
“I didn’t recognize anybody and their jersey’s were all about Grace. The coach had 23 (Grace’s hockey number) on the back of his jersey, the team name and her name in it and I don’t know anybody. That’s an example of the community love for Grace that she has inspired people that she didn’t even meet.”
“The outpouring again was unbelievable.”
The goal is to raise awareness for childhood cancer and to raise funds for the Grace Bowen Tribute Fund.
Bowen said that childhood cancer is “severely underfunded.”
“Only 3% to 5% of government funding goes to childhood cancer.”
“That’s for all kinds of childhood cancer. So there are over 100 types, and out of those types you’ve got hundreds of sub-types. So not just one kind of childhood cancer say leukemia, brain cancer. So that 3% to 5%, measly amount goes to all childhood cancer.”
“Children deserve more than four. It’s just not acceptable.”
“It’s communities and parents whose children have gone through cancer that do these kinds of things, because it’s not coming from anywhere else.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
