Payton Sernick continues to be a hard-working fundraiser and ambassador for the Jim Pattison Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan (JPCHFS) with The Cancer Sucks Project.
Payton was at the Estevan Dairy Queen on Thursday for the Miracle Treat Day, in which the net proceeds of Blizzard treats were directed to the foundation. She greeted customers with the smile that has become so well known in the community, and served customers at both the front till and in the drive-thru.
鈥淭he community supports everybody so much, so it鈥檚 really nice to see,鈥� said her mother, Andrea Sernick. 鈥淓verybody came in to get their Blizzards and any other ice cream treats, and from what I know, it was really successful.鈥�
Payton was there from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., and helped sell a lot of Blizzard treats.
She was also selling fidget spinners, the toys that have quickly become popular with youths. The fidget spinners are the primary fundraiser for The Cancer Sucks Project this year, and proceeds will be directed to the CHFS.
鈥淚t is a small toy for kids,鈥� said Andrea. 鈥淭here are lots of therapeutic benefits to them as well, but we鈥檙e just using them as a fun toy. Everybody was trying to get their hands on them.鈥�
Andrea said they have raised approximately $5,000 for the CFHS, which is a good figure, but the Sernick family set the goal a little higher this year.
鈥淲e had a nice little slogan that if you鈥檙e going to waste your money on these things, you might as well waste them with us, so we can get all of the money direct to the children鈥檚 hospital,鈥� said Andrea.
The Sernicks have been to a handful of farmers鈥� markets and other outdoor markets. They have about 600 of the 2,000 spinners remaining, and she hopes they will be gone by the end of the summer.
The spinners are selling for $10 each.
Sernick said they wanted to have a slightly easier fundraiser this year after the success of the Cancer Sucks Campaign in 2016. Payton sold suckers and sparkle tattoos, and held a raffle for a playhouse, and raised more than $30,000 for the CHFS, crushing her goal of $5,000.
鈥淲e knew we wouldn鈥檛 come close to that this year, but we definitely wanted to try, because every dollar counts,鈥� said Andrea.
Payton was diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma and leukemia in 2014. After undergoing treatment for cancer, she embarked on The Cancer Sucks Project last year.
The Sernicks view the new children鈥檚 hospital as a very important service for Saskatchewan. Now that it is visible and 58 per cent complete, people can see it taking shape.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a children鈥檚 hospital geared towards children, with a fun zone and an outdoor play area for patients 鈥� that a regular hospital just doesn鈥檛 have,鈥� said Andrea. 鈥淚 know my kids see the value of it, and I鈥檓 so excited other families and children are really getting to understand what this children鈥檚 hospital is going to mean for so many people.鈥�
Payton and her brother, Beckham, have shared their excitement for the project with their friends, but Andrea said it鈥檚 important for everyone to know how important the hospital will be.
