Fairfax’s Tara Sankner is a friendly, softball-playing 9-year-old. She also has an astrocytoma, a treatable but inoperable form of brain cancer.
So she and her family are participating in the upcoming CureSearch Walk at the Fairfax Corner shopping center, off Monument Drive in Fair Oaks. It’s slated for Sunday, Oct. 19; registration and check-in are at 9 a.m., followed by the opening ceremony and walk at 10 a.m.
The event benefits CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, and the money raised by Tara’s team, “Pray for Tara,” supports the organization’s mission to fund and support targeted and innovative children’s-cancer research.
The day will include prizes, music, food and fun-filled activities for the entire family. But most of all, Tara’s parents, Tammy and Craig Sankner, hope this walk will also make people realize the great need for more children’s cancer-research funding.
“I extend an invitation for everyone to participate,” said Tammy Sankner. “If you’re not able to come and walk, please consider donating to our team. We need your help to be successful, and we’d love to have a lot of support.”
People may join Tara’s team, register as an individual, or just make a donation to CureSearch for Children’s Cancer on her behalf. To do so, go to www.curesearchwalk.org, then select the Northern Virginia walk on Oct. 19 and click “Find a Participant” and search for Tara Sankner.
— Bonnie Hobbs