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Vol. 34, No. 29 | Richmond Suburban News | November 22, 2017
Cancer-stricken girl hosting holiday party for ill kids 7-year-old Sawyer Perkins ‘paying it forward’ for pediatric patients despite her own battle Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com
SAWYER PERKINS
RICHMOND -- A 7-year-old girl in a life-altering struggle with brain cancer will host a party aimed to help an organization that brought her smiles through her treatment -- and, by doing so, she also will “pay it forward” to pediatric patients who remain in the hospital through the holidays.
Sawyer Perkins of Mechanicsville has organized a toy box wrapping party for Mason’s Toy Box, a Charlottesvillebased organization that delivers new, unwrapped toys to pediatric patients and their families (from Richmond to Charlottesville to Augusta to Roanoke and beyond) who are stuck in the hospital for what should be some of their most memorable family festivities. “Santa came in with a lot of pres-
Little ones explain how to prepare a turkey By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
MECHANICSVILLE – Some preschool-age students at the Friendly Care Day School at 6420 Mechanicsville Tpk. in Mechanicsville were asked last week how their moms prepare a Thanksgiving turkey. As Art Linkletter said, “Kids say the darndest things.” The children offered their versions of how the centerpiece of the big day’s meal makes its way to the table. Their hon-
est and innocent responses are easily summed up in one word: comical. Director Cindy Redfern shared what she describe as “a few classic answers.” First my dad shoots it, then puts in a pan, then mom puts some spicy stuff on it. Then she cooks. Then she puts it on a pan and then we start eating. She puts some ice on it to cook. Then she puts some see TURKEY, pg. 35 }
ents,” Sawyer said. And of the bag full of gifts he hauled in for her, she said, “He brought me a box of light up butterflies.” But it wasn’t during their regular toy drive that Mason’s Toy Box helped Santa get to the hospital. They made a special trip to Children’s Hospital of Richmond in July because it was Sawyer’s 7th birthday “and we didn’t even know if she was going to make it
through the night,” her mother, Jamie Perkins, said. Sawyer has undergone a number of surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation sessions from CHoR to UVA Children’s Hospital to St. Jude’s hospitals in Memphis, but the once-removed cancerous brain tumors have returned and continue to threaten her life.
VSU honors Hunter Photo submitted by Francine Hunter
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The turkey -- the main event on Thanksgiving.
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Earl Hunter Jr., shown in the middle, a longtime member of the Hanover County School Board, recently was honored by Virginia State University. He attended a reunion of Trojan baseball team members. For more on Hunter’s recognition, turn to page 17.
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see PARTY, pg. 35 }