The pain of fighting cancer was lessened -- if only for a few hours -- when an Aurora cancer patient got her very own prom, courtesy of some amazing CSU students.
On Saturday, May 27, the Love Your Melon Campus Crew from Colorado State University put together a beautiful prom in honor of a 10-year-old cancer patient and her family and friends. Daisy Walsh, from Aurora, was diagnosed with brain cancer when she was just six years old. She's been fighting ever since.
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The prom was held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver Tech Center and featured dancing, desserts, crafts, a puppet show, a photo booth, and a special crowning ceremony honoring Daisy.
Love Your Melon is an apparel brand with a mission to get their special beanie hats into the hands of every one of the 15,000 children diagnosed with cancer each year. Their non-profit college chapters, the Love Your Melon Campus Crews, exist at colleges across the country and work to raise money for pediatric cancer patients by selling the hats. Once they've reached a certain amount of funding, they're allowed to choose a "superhero" and give them a special day.
A few weeks back, Colorado State Campus in Ft. Collins contacted me, thanks to a fellow cancer mama's nomination," Daisy's mother posted on her Hope for Daisy Facebook page. "The Love Your Melon crew from the campus wanted to put on a Prom night just for Daisy. It was amazing! Daisy was surrounded by a few of the people who love her the most. She laughed, danced and did crafts. She got to be around kids and be goofy and have fun! The college kids did the entire thing by themselves ... We totally were able to have a great time and didn't have to think and be afraid."
"As children go through the challenging battle of cancer treatment, they often need more than medicine alone," the
Love Your Melon website states. "Therapeutic treatments have been proven to increase treatment success, and at Love Your Melon we are dedicated to providing this relief for children by creating an adventure they will never forget."
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Childhood cancer has to be one of the most horrible experiences imaginable, for everyone involved. The fact that these college students voluntarily insert themselves into these tough situations to bring light and joy to the patients and their families is truly incredible.
This night filled our hearts with joy, and we will always be so thankful for each individual who had anything to do with this special night and coming out to be with her," Daisy's mom continued. "It was perfect in every way."
For more information on Love Your Melon, visit their
website or the
CSU Crew's Facebook page. You can also follow Daisy's story at the
Hope for Daisy Facebook page or her family's
GoFundMe page.
Are you familiar with the Love Your Melon organization? Do you know a young cancer patient who's been blessed by their efforts? Tell us in the comments!
Photos courtesy of CSU Crew's Facebook page.
