JAY — Karson Hull and his family welcome community members to their 2nd Annual Hometown Hoedown from 4 to 10 p.m. today in the Brookside Barn at the Rainbow Banquet Hall in Altona.
The Hoedown will include a cocktail hour, dinner, Chinese auction, a DJ (DJ Flash), line dancing led by Nancy Dow, and a live band (Nighthawk). Tickets to the event can be purchased from the website, or by reaching out, and are $45 per person.
“It makes me feel good that my family and I can do these kinds of things, like the Hoedown, to help research a cure for those like me,” Hull said.
Hope for Miracles, a nonprofit charity based in Jay, was created in honor of Karson, who has battled neuroblastoma three times in his 13 years. Through the family’s quest for answers, they learned that only 4% or less of research funds are dedicated to childhood cancers, and rarer forms like neuroblastoma receive even less.
Several sponsors have made this event possible and have been a part of this annual event since its inception. Liquor and Wine Warehouse, Dominic’s Hardware, SeaComm Federal Credit Union, & Blue Line Insurance Agency have been supporters of the Hoedown from the beginning and continue to be an integral part of making the Hoedown into what it is.
“They are like family. They have shown us that they believe in Hope for Miracles, our mission, and our ability to raise these much-needed funds to find a cure. Their continued support is like a warm blanket. When the fears set in, as they inevitably do, just the knowledge that we can count on their continued support is such needed reassurance,” LaBombard said.
“We are so incredibly thankful to our community members and businesses for their ongoing support and participation. The sponsors, donors, attendees, and overall supporters are the superheroes, along with Karson, of course.”
Hope for Miracles raises much needed funding for childhood cancer and ensures that a minimum of 96% of these funds go directly to research. Since its inception in December of 2018, 99% of funds raised have gone to Memorial Sloan Kettering for a clinical trial that has shown to be safe and effective in treating children with neuroblastoma. The actual vaccine being tested can be used to treat not only neuroblastoma, but all solid type tumors in both children and adults.
“It is very important to me to give help and hope to others who are dealing with a childhood cancer diagnosis. I want to inspire others to get involved in the fight against childhood cancer. Strength is in numbers and together we can change the four percent and help fund the research that will change the lives of these children and families,” LaBombard said.
She emphasized that devoting funds to research is the only way to find a cure for neuroblastoma and other childhood cancers.
Hope for Miracles, Inc. is a 501©3 public charity and previously donated $100,000 to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for Childhood Cancer research and is currently working to raise another $100,000.The charity has raised $80,000 of its current $100,000 goal.
To purchase tickets, or for more information about Hope for Miracles, visit
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/b00cf142-f5db-409c-b8c5-998e4dadee2e
hopeformiracles.org/events