July 6, 2023 By Carol Britton Meyer
The community is invited to attend a fundraiser at the Paragon Boardwalk in Hull on Aug 4 to help raise money for life-saving research and clinical trials for pediatric brain cancer patients in support of Hingham resident Adelia, 7, who was recently diagnosed with an aggressive type of brain cancer with no known cure and limited access to clinical trials.
This family-friendly fundraiser — featuring imaginative games, creative play, and surprises for everyone — will take place from 4 to 7 p.m.
Adding to the fun will be live music by Desiree Glazier-Nazro, Adam Nazro, and Matt Ambrose of Steel Rhythm, facepainting and balloon animals, arts and crafts, raffles and a silent auction, and a free $10 arcade card for kids who attend, courtesy of Paragon Boardwalk. For more information, to purchase tickets, sponsor an activity, make a donation, or to contribute a raffle or auction item, go to AdeliaStrong.SplashThat.com.
“Our mission with this event is to raise awareness about pediatric brain cancer, the vastly underfunded and desperately needed research in this area, and to support Adelia with her loving community,” her mother, Meryl Summers, told the Hingham Anchor.
“We have sold over 150 tickets so far, and we have a capacity limit of 400.”
An “Adelia Strong” team will also participate in the Aug. 20 Falmouth Road Race to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, with the funds raised directed to a promising clinical trial that will be available in the Fall for kids with DIPG (Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) and DMG (diffuse midline glioma, what Adelia has), at the suggestion of one of Adelia’s physicians — Dr. Daphne Haas-Kogan.
“This team of doctors have been working on it for several years, and they have figured out what the tumor is addicted to, and how to starve it out. This new medication will hopefully do just that,” Summers explained. “The funds we raise are vital to keeping the trial going, as well as to open it in as many locations as possible so that as many kids as possible can benefit from it.”
All proceeds from the Aug. 4 fundraiser will benefit DIPG/DMG research at Dana Farber.
Hingham “Adelia Strong” team members participating in the road race include Allison Daury, Molly Smith, Casey O’Boyle, Laura Wells, Kerry Mincieli, Jessi Shuraleff, Katie Beston, Allie LaFratta, Michael Joseph, Mary Farrington, Carolyn Schneider and Hilary Kelly.
Although Adelia is doing very well right now, and her most recent scan showed stability, “if/when she has a progression, she will absolutely participate in this trial,” Summers said.
Adelia is known for her courage and for her endless energy, bright smile, resiliency, and way of entertaining those around her with her creative spirit and amusing one-liners.