Phoenix Youngsters’s hoping to lift $1M for most cancers heart, group additionally gathering craft provides

PHOENIX — September is Childhood Most cancers Consciousness Month, and at Phoenix Youngsters’s Hospital, there is a marketing campaign to lift $1 million for the Middle for Most cancers and Blood Problems.

Seven-year-old Leighton Accardo from Gilbert is one in every of 100 youngsters who will get care on the heart day-after-day.

Leighton, the third of 4 youngsters, all the time been lively. Her whole household is made from athletes. Her father Jeremy Accardo is a former MLB participant and a coach for the New York Mets.

“I play soccer, determine skating, hockey and baseball and softball,” mentioned Leighton.

She’s been an athlete and competitor since she was three years previous, however these previous few months, she’s had to make use of her power to battle the hardest opponent — most cancers.

“She wakened one morning and the ache was past something we had seen her undergo or she had skilled,” defined her mom Carly Accardo.

In Might, medical doctors discovered an enormous mass in her stomach and tumors on her liver and lung.

“Inside per week, our daughter was getting chemotherapy, which is a dad or mum’s worst nightmare,” mentioned Accardo.

This month, Phoenix Youngsters’s Hospital will got down to increase $1 million for the CCBD to assist youngsters like Leighton for its “Step Up. Cease Most cancers.” marketing campaign. Donations fund analysis, care, gear, household help and extra on the CCBD.

Accardo says the hospital and its companies have actually helped her handle Leighton’s care whereas nonetheless having the ability to see her different youngsters. She says it has been tough as a result of her husband is away with the Mets.

“The nurses and the kid life, they assist me so I can go and be with my different youngsters as effectively,” mentioned Accardo.

One of many tumors brought about Leighton to lose mobility in her left foot. She hasn’t been in a position to return to high school, and she will’t play sports activities.

“I am actually excited to get again to that,” mentioned Leighton.

Within the meantime, she retains herself busy with arts and crafts. Leighton loves going to the hospital’s playroom the place they’ve crafts actions arrange.

“As quickly as Leighton wakes up, she desires to go to the craft room to see what they’re making,” mentioned Accardo.

To present again this month, Leighton and her Peaches baseball group in Chandler have determined to carry a crafts provide drive.

“She is aware of that there are a whole lot of youngsters out and in of the hospital and craft provides get used up, so she desires to do what she will to replenish all these craft rooms,” mentioned Accardo. “Her outlook on this entire factor…she’s simply had a smile on her face your entire time, so she’s simply superb.”

That arts and crafts provide drive is subsequent Tuesday, September 14, at Espee Park. The tackle is 450 E. Knox Rd., close to Arizona Avenue and Warner Highway in Chandler.

This is how one can donate to the “

Step Up. Cease Most cancers.” marketing campaign

.