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November 16 - December 6, 2013
Youth
www.SanTanSun.com
‘Dunk Your Kicks’ while supporting pediatric cancer patients BY MEGHAN MCCOY
Parents who are struggling to financially support their cancer-stricken children are receiving help from a unique fundraising initiative in the Southeast Valley. Three Chandler youngsters Jayden, Angelisa, and Tylar Bailey, spent their fall break dispersing boxes at various locations to help collect sneakers for Dunk Your Kicks after their mother Erica Bailey shared information about the cause. Tylar says he is helping with Dunk Your Kicks “because I don’t want anyone to have to fight cancer anymore.” Started in 2012, their campaign raises money to help find a cure for pediatric cancer. The trio’s goal was also to help low-income and military families who are experiencing financial struggles while their child is having treatments. Now, instead of the 200 million pairs of sneakers being thrown away each year sitting in landfills producing toxins, the sneakers are earning a profit and helping many families. The fundraising campaign was created by the Max Cure Foundation in December 2008 by the New York-based Plotkin family. Their son, Max, who was diagnosed with cancer before his 4th birthday, is in remission at 9 years old. “David, Max’s father, gave up everything to run the foundation,” says Erica Bailey, who began working with the foundation at the beginning of the year.
Instead of asking individuals for monetary donations, Dunk Your Kicks collects gently used sneakers and running shoes. “It’s been a phenomenal campaign and it’s growing and growing,” Bailey says. Her children placed boxes at 10 Audio Express locations and Fix 24 Chiropractic, which will remain there until Fri., Nov. 22. Audio Express is offering a $10 off coupon for every pair of sneakers donated. “Their goal is to raise 20,000 pairs of sneakers,” Bailey explains. Each sneaker earns $1, which in turn goes to families. “I will be able to physically show my children that 20,000 sneakers equates to $20,000. It’s visual. It teaches them morals and values.” An international recycler helps the foundation resell the shoes to merchants in developing countries. “The more sneakers we collect, the more children we can help and the longer we can help them for,” she says. “We are putting shoes on men, women and children who die from diseases.” The Baileys’ efforts are providing assistance to three families this year via the Dunk Your Kicks donations. Their children are undergoing cancer treatments. Delilah Dow’s son Buddy, 5, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, high-grade brain tumor, in 2011. Soon
DUNK YOUR KICKS: Three Chandler youngsters—Tylar Bailey, 12, Angelisa Bailey, 11, and Jayden Bailey, 5—spent their fall break setting up boxes for a unique fundraising initiative, Dunk Your Kicks. Old sneakers and running shoes can be dropped off at Audio Express to help pediatric cancer, as well as low-income families and military families who have a child battling cancer. Submitted photo
thereafter, Buddy underwent surgery for tumors on the back side of his brain. He also has tumors on the front of his brain as well as his spinal cord. The initial diagnosis was shocking for Dow, who lives in Phoenix. Buddy began chemotherapy after his diagnosis and now has treatments every three weeks, Monday through Friday, for three hours at a time. Dow says the chemo is helping
the tumors and preventing further growth. “He is really strong,” Dow says. “He doesn’t like chemo, but he deals with it. He gives me the strength to keep doing what I am doing for him.” The young boy started school this year at William T. Machan Elementary School where he also attends physical, occupational and speech therapy.
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