by Hunter Dawkins

Saturday morning at St. Martin Community Center in Biloxi, the 2nd Annual Seymour Law Firm, PLLC Fish Fry Benefit to Fight Childhood Cancer raised funds to benefit the SoSo Strong Foundation and the Pink Hearts Foundation Ponytail Kids Club, attended by a crowd of over 200.

Tina Seymour Demoran, owner and managing partner of Seymour Law Firm, PLLC, aka “The Blue Jean Lawyer” for the Gazebo Gazette, said their goal was to raise $5K this year. To date, the 2018 event has raised $5,200, which has surpassed the amount raised in their Inaugural Benefit held in 2017. The 2017 event raised $3,600 for Gracie Mae Seymour, an 8-year old girl from Hurley, Mississippi who had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Gracie is currently in remission and, as the 2017 beneficiary, assisted the law firm with choosing the 2018 beneficiaries. One of the 2018 beneficiaries is the Soso Strong Foundation, established by Angel & Joshua Myers. The Myers’ daughter, Sophia, recently passed from DIPG.

The second beneficiary for 2018 is the Pink Heart Pony Tail Club, of the Pink Hearts Foundation, which provides wigs for children.

JoAnn Niceley, chair of the Pink Hearts Foundation, states that it takes 15 clips of real hair to create a wig.

On Saturday, over 22 women donated their pony tails to the Pink Hearts Pony Tail Club, and many more are en route to the Foundation, courtesy of participants from the 2nd Annual Fish Fry.

At noon, all of the beneficiaries were given customized “torches” to carry in their fight, a prayer was said for all of those fighting cancer and those warriors who have passed away, a moment of silence was observed, and local bagpipers honored the crowd with “Amazing Grace.”

The 2019 Beneficiaries were also announced. They are: Characters for A Cause and Meghan’s Dream. The date for the 3rd Annual Fish Fry has been set for Friday, April 12, 2019.