No child should have to fight cancer and every child deserves the right to play. These concepts are the guiding principles behind Jensen’s Heart of Gold Play for a Cure.
The event will offer over a dozen activities for children at the train depot in Downtown Plant City while simultaneously raising both money and awareness for Jensen’s, a charity that provides financial assistance to families battling childhood cancer, and child cancer research.
“We want to have activities for kids because we feel like children shouldn’t be fighting cancer,” Emily Pierce, the executive vice president of the Florida Chapter of Jensen’s Heart of Gold, said. “We want people to know that September is childhood cancer awareness month. We also want kids to play. Kids that have cancer, kids that don't have cancer, any kids. All kids deserve the right to play.”
Play for a Cure is a free event that will have approximately 30 booths with activities like corn hole, a magic show, blow-up bowling, make your own slime, snow cones, Chick Fil A givaways, face painting and more. The Plant City Police Department is bringing a squad car to the event and the Plant City Fire Department is bringing a fire truck as a show-and-tell for kids.
There will also be a blood mobile on site since children in treatment rely heavily on blood and platelet donations.
The Corner Store will be providing box lunches to sell by donations, Jensen’s will have a bake sale and a donation jar will also be present for anyone interested in giving.
“My daughter has been fighting cancer for nine years,” Pierce said. “It’s important to have a community connection, to let people know that kids fight cancer. A lot more kids then you think are fighting cancer and they're a lot closer than you think. There are kids in our community right now fighting cancer. These are kids that go to the same school as your child that you may pass in the grocery store and not even realize it. They go to church with us. They’re a part of this community just like we are.”
Pierce said she hopes Play for a Cure will offer a fun day for children and teach adults there is more than one way to help a child in need. Jensen’s offers assistance for families of a child with cancer in central Florida. Unlike other organizations, Jensen’s does not have a strict application process and gives the family funds to use however they see fit.
Over the past five years, Jensen’s has helped over 60 families and raised over $50,000. Some families may use the money to pay bills, others to take their child on a vacation to Disney World. Pierce said every family has a need and Jensen’s is here to give families the means to meet that demand.
Play for a Cure is sponsored by Abdoney Pediatric Dentistry, Christian Financial Counseling and 2 Promote U. It will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine.
“I think obviously no one should suffer from this awful disease but kids are the most vulnerable of our society and still learning how to be who they want to be,” Pierce said. “They learn that through play, so play is one of the most important things a kid can do so it’s important to put a focus on that. I’ll tell you if you go into a pediatric cancer floor you’ll never find more hope in this world than there. Kids with cancer are very resilient and they are very full of hope.”