PICTOU - Reese Hawkins loves parties and today, many people came out to celebrate the one-year anniversary of her life saving stem cell transplant. With red, white and gold balloons dotting the shoreline of Pictou Harbour, the community walked five kilometres on the trail to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and to celebrate a Reese’s one-year anniversary.
Men, women, children and even dogs braved the snow on Sunday to walk in support of Reese.
Before a perfectly matched donor was found for Reese a year ago, she spent a year battling acute myeloid leukemia.
Reese’s parents, Ed Hawkins and Kora Hanrahan organized the event Sunday to not only celebrate Reese’s anniversary, but to thank the community for the support they’ve given their family throughout her journey to recovery.
Hanrahan told The News last week that Pictou County is known for rallying around people when they are in need, and Reese’s case was no exception.
“It’s been a difficult year, but it was made easier by the support we got from the community, friends, family and the fact that Reese has been strong,” she said.
Participants gave donations for Team Reese, which is raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk, for which Reese is the Society’s honoured hero this year in Atlantic Canada.
Hanrahan said Team Reese will continue to raise funds for Light the Night until the event happens in October.
More to come…
To view a slideshow of photos from the Walk for Reese, go to: http://www.ngnews.ca/Slideshow/8193/Walk-for-Reese/1
