2023 Markie's Miracle Toy Drive Update

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As the holiday season approaches, our committee once again is working tirelessly to plan a safe, fun, and effective Christmas fundraising event. In previous years, we would host this event annually to continue our work of paying it forward for my good fortune. These events allow us to support many families battling various types of pediatric cancer in a variety of ways. At our annual event, our guests also bring along toys, gift cards, and cozy blankets that our kids and teens treasure while going through the grueling treatments necessary. We support the oncology
department at AI DuPont with these treasures not used only at Christmas time, but we stock the closets and kids are able to have a special gift all year long after enduring treatments, spinal taps, bone marrow aspirations, and many other unbelievable procedures that our special gifts help make a bit more bearable. We are asking for your help to continue the tradition. Please consider donating to the Markie’s Miracle Toy Drive.

 

We are in need of toys, games, gift cards, and blankets for our kids! We will have a toy drop-off on Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 from 12 to 5. We will be accepting items at 629 Andrew Road in Springfield.

Continuing the success of our outdoor, Christmas-themed event in 2021, we will again be outdoors for 2023, with our theme being Delco! The event will feature live music,  food and drink, activities for kids, as well as raffles for gift baskets. If you are able to donate a gift card or item for our raffles we would deeply appreciate your kindness. On behalf of myself and my committee, we thank you for allowing us to keep the tradition at Christmastime.

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Many of you know the reason behind this labor of love, but for those of you who may not, below is a short history.

 

Our son Mark was born on April 14th of 1998. On June 15th, at a 2-month well-baby checkup, Mark was diagnosed with Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. At 8 weeks old, his chance of survival was less than 10%. Through our many prayers for a miracle, we vowed that if Mark survived we would pay it forward.  Mark has been healthy and happy since completing his treatment in August of 2000. Mark is very blessed to be on the Miracle List at DuPont. We as a family are very fortunate to live in such a loving and generous community that makes our promise a reality each and every year.

 

The gifts we receive and the funds raised directly go to our families and little precious patients at DuPont. Events that we are able to host at the hospital yearly include hosting parties on the floor for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, and throughout the summer. We also are available to help when social work calls on us.

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In past years we have raised over $125k in total, with over 65k raised in the last two years alone! This would not be possible without the support and efforts of so many.  Together, we can make a tremendous impact on the lives of these children and families in the battle of their lives.

 

From Markie, our entire family, and our neighbors, we thank you for once again allowing us to fulfill our promise and paying it forward!