An event that raises thousands of dollars to fund research to cure pediatric brain cancer is back for its fourth year.
The Carnival for the Cure will begin at 4:30 p.m. June 10 in Ceraland Park, presented in memory of 5-year-old Peyton Whittington, who succumbed to a brain cancer, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma.
Known as DIPG, Peyton had an inoperable tentacle-like tumor that encased his brain stem. He died on June 4, 2013 in the arms of his mother, Lynn Whittington.
She created Peyton’s Angels Indiana Chapter of the Cure Starts Now Foundation to raise money for researchers to learn how to fight brain cancers that kill children. Whittington started Carnival for the Cure as a way to raise money for research.
“This isn’t going to bring my little boy back, but it will help other families with little boys and girls who are facing this,” she said.
Last year’s event raised about $47,000 for research. Whittington said this year’s goal has been set at $50,000.
Each year, Whittington brings a slightly new twist to the event, which features carnival games, prizes, live entertainment from the band Night Owl, a silent auction which features trips to Colorado and Florida and a magician and bouncy house.
New this year is the opportunity to buy one of 400 raffle tickets being sold to win a 1 carat diamond donated by Gold Casters Fine Jewelry in Bloomington. Raffle tickets are available online at indiana.thecurestartsnow.org/.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
