Published: December 03, 2006 11:53 pm      

‘Cards of Hope’

Marion youths draw for pediatric cancer fundraiser

FAIRMONT — Two Marion County pediatric cancer survivors have drawn holiday cards for the 15th annual U.S. Cellular Cards of Hope Project.

Brogan Raddish, daughter of Marcie Raddish of Monongah and Mark Raddish, has drawn “The Angel.”

In 2001, she was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a type of bone cancer usually found in children and young adults.

“She was in kindergarten, going into first grade when all this happened. She was still a baby,” said Marcie Raddish.

Brogan had undergone treatment for a year when, three years ago, more cancer cells were detected. Over the years, she’s gone through chemotherapy, surgery, a stem cell transplant and radiation. She has PET scans every four months.

“She’s doing well now,” Marcie said of her 11-year-old daughter.

“But in October they saw something on her lung. So we went back to Pittsburgh. They wanted us to decide whether to do a biopsy. The oncologist discouraged that, but with Brogan’s history, he went on ahead.

“Through the grace of God, everything came back fine. Christmas came early, that’s for sure.

“She wore a WVU shirt to the hospital with her little scrub outfit. It was just what we needed to cut the tension.”

Doctors removed the top left portion of one of Brogan’s lungs ... “just damage from the radiation,” Marcie said.

“She is spunky,” she said of her daughter.

“Nobody knows what this child has gone through. But she never questioned it.

“As a matter of fact, she helped make the decision to have the biopsy. ‘If there’s something in there, I want to know what it is,’” she said. “‘My mind is made up to do the biopsy.’

“And we all agreed.”

The originals of the chosen cards are purchased at the annual Cash Bash.

“We have her card professionally framed,” Marcie said. “It’s part of our decor. It’s a reminder of what the card stands for. We do not take it down.”

She’s had a “rough time,” her mother said.

“She’s had cancer twice and her parents are divorced. But she’s just a joy to be around. I can’t tell you the strength she’s given us.

“People prayed for her ... people we don’t even know. She’s affected people’s lives without even knowing it.

“She’s been my hero. I’ve said it before. She’s just an inspiration. When I complain, I stop and realize what she’s been through. It’s a reality check.”

Brogan is now an active sixth-grader at Dunbar Middle School, where she’s also a cheerleader.

Every year, she’s drawn angels for her cards.

“I get ideas from other Christmas cards,” she said. “The last one I did, I have a tree topper I used as a model. I think drawing the cards is fun ... and it helps raise money for the hospital.”

The Cards of Hope program is a joint project of WVU Children’s Hospital, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center and U.S. Cellular, and is the primary fundraiser for the Pediatric Cancer Care and Research Fund at WVU Children’s Hospital.

“We’re doing fantastic this year,” said Lora Edgell, director of annual giving at MBRCC. “We’ve sold more than 1,500 packages of cards, and it’s only the beginning of December.

“All money earned from the cards goes to support the Pediatric Cancer Care and Research Fund at MBRCC to help kids battling cancer — and those who have battled cancer,” she said.

“We have a wonderful committee that plans for this year round. They start planning in January. The card-drawing party is held in June or July, and they start marketing the cards in September.

“It’s a huge success,” Edgell said. “I’d like to raise $30,000 free and clear.

“U.S. Cellular has been on board for many, many years. They do the billing inserts, sell cards in their stores. They’re a tremendous friend of Cards of Hope.

“They have underwritten 100 percent of the costs. All the money goes to children’s cancer care. There are no hidden costs.”

Each year, all children who have been patients at WVUH, and their siblings, are invited to a card-drawing party in the summer. This year, about 75 children participated. From this, 10 designs are chosen to be that year’s Christmas cards.

“If they’re in the hospital at the time of the party (as Brogan was), we send them a packet in the mail,” Edgell said.

“The committee has such a difficult task in choosing the 10 final cards.”

The annual summer parties are also a way for the young cancer survivors to stay connected to each other, Edgell said.

This is the 15th year for Cards of Hope. Only one patient has had a Christmas card chosen every year ... Whitney Helms, now 18, daughter of Joy and Larry Helms.

This is a unique program, Edgell said.

“A lot of other programs call us for information on how we got started. Some even call themselves ‘Cards of Hope,’ but the Web site cardsofhope.com is us.

“I’m hoping to get the name trademarked.”

The program couldn’t succeed without the community’s support, she added.

“They have embraced it. They’ve made us very, very successful.”

A 20-card pack costs $15 of either one design only or a variety pack of 20 (two cards of each design). The back of each card lists information about the patient/artist who created it.

Cards will be sold as long as they last, Edgell said.

“So it’s never too late to buy one. I’ll ship them priority mail. I’ll even deliver them. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Cards of Hope are available at the following U.S. Cellular retail stores: 14 East Grafton Road, Fairmont; 1451 Earl Core Road, Morgantown; 4161 University Towne Centre Drive, Granville; and 150 Emily Drive, Suite C8, Clarksburg.

For more information, call Edgell at 293-3711 or visit www.cardsofhope.com.

E-mail Debra Minor Wilson at dwilson@timeswv.com.