by Tina Seymour Demoran, Esquire

A little over two years ago, I found out that my great-niece, my oldest brother’s granddaughter, my Gracie Mae, was headed to Alabama for surgery. 

She’d been having a few headaches, but the kid was an 8-year-old tomboy softball player. She’d received her fair share of softballs to the cranium. 

Thank God, her mom is a nurse. 

She made sure GM was scanned and the doctors told her they’d found a mass in her brain. 

A large one. 

She needed immediate surgery. 

Fast forward a few months later. 

My niece-in-law, Heather Seymour, had to take significant time off from work as an RN to transport her oldest child to chemo.  To treatment.  To scans. 

We knew they needed financial assistance, but I was in the middle of a big law firm move. 

I was heartbroken.  I didn’t have the financial reserves in my firm to help them.   

But…

In the darkness…there is always Light. 

I offered to take the little money I could offer and asked them if I could hold a benefit fish fry for them. 

A few weeks later…we held our inaugural fish fry. 

We raised $3,600 in three hours. 

Last year, I celebrated my 10-year colon cancer remission anniversary the same day we held our second annual fish fry. 

We raised $5,600 for the So Strong Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Inc. and the Pink Heart Funds…both amazing Children’s Charity/Cancer Awareness groups. 

On April 12th, our Third Annual Fish Fry will be held. 

This year, again, we are benefiting two amazing childhood cancer charities.  

Our numbers may not reach into the six figures. 

But we’re ok with that. 

We believe in mustard seed faith. 

We know that every penny…every dollar…makes a difference. 

We will stand shoulder to shoulder to do our small part to battle a disease that doesn’t discriminate…that doesn’t choose its victims by their socioeconomic or cultural backgrounds, by their faith, or by their age. 

I’m a survivor of this horrible disease…this damned disease that is cancer. 

For eleven years, I’ve dealt with the guilt that I have been given a second chance while others, many of whom are beloved family and friends…were not. 

I admit it. I feel guilty. I don’t deserve the cure I was given. Not when so many others were denied the same chance. 

But each year, I do my small part to help those who are still fighting this disease. 

Friday, April 12th, we will hold our Third Annual Fish Fry to Help End Childhood Cancer. 

There will be food, sponsor tents, music, and the Easter Bunny. 

Our community will stand together and work together to raise money for this cause. 

As we come to the end of this Easter Season, I leave you with one question…

“What can you do to make a difference in your community?”