Mall to raise funds to help provide Chemo Ducks to children undergoing chemotherapy treatments at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida
by selling Dollar Ducks and Adopt a Duck Sponsorships
Gulf Coast Town Center is pleased to announce their partnership with non-profit organization Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program. The mall is teaming up with Gabe’s Chemo Duck to raise awareness of the organization in the Southwest Florida area and ultimately raise funds for this worthwhile cause.
In December 2002, Lu Sipos and her husband Rob discovered their one year old child, Gabe, had cancer. As the entire family struggled to adapt to the unthinkable, Gabe struggled to understand what was happening to him, as life quickly became a never-ending round of doctor and hospital visits.
In an effort to help her child through this horrific and difficult time, Lu took a present given by a friend – a stuffed yellow duck, fairly generic, except for his oversized yellow beak – and gave it an extreme makeover. She dressed it in blue hospital pajamas and tied a bandana around its head. She added a chemotherapy port on its chest, a blood pressure cuff to his arm and borrowed empty syringes from her son’s nurses. Gabe quickly took to the duck, began playing “doctor” and Chemo Duck was formed. As “Dr. Gabe,” Lu realized her son was able to administer treatment and role-play his way through new, frightening experiences, allowing Gabe to overcome his fears. Chemo Duck became an integral part of Gabe’s medical team during cancer treatment and an important part of Gabe’s life.
The Chemo Duck organization was formed shortly after, focusing on bringing the Gabe’s Chemo Duck program to as many children living with cancer as possible. To date, over 5,000 children with cancer have been provided a source of comfort through Chemo Duck. However, there are currently over 1,000 children on the waiting list to receive a Chemo Duck to help them through their difficult journey.
Now cancer free, Gabe is enjoying newfound celebrity status, thanks to his breakout role opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in the movie Country Strong, in which he plays the role of Travis, a Make-A-Wish child who Gwyneth’s character visits during a concert tour. Gabe hopes that his acting debut will bring awareness to his non-profit organization which assists pediatric cancer patients throughout the United States and is based just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.
In order to increase both awareness and funding for the Chemo Duck organization, Gulf Coast Town Center will be offering Dollar Ducks to customers interested in making donations. Dollar Ducks are paper ducks customers may purchase for $1 or more. Purchased Dollar Ducks will be displayed at the center. Gulf Coast Town Center will be selling the Dollar Ducks from the Mall Management Office. They will be available for purchase through Saturday, March 5, 2011. The mall will also have Adopt-a-Duck sponsorship information available, allowing customers the option of providing a Chemo Duck to a child in need for $25. Larger sponsorships offering cases of Chemo Ducks to area hospitals are also available.
100% of all dollars raised at Gulf Coast Town Center will go directly back to the Gabe’s Chemo Duck program.
100% of all funds raised at Gulf Coast Town Center through Dollar Duck sales will go directly to Gabe’s Chemo Duck organization to fund Chemo Ducks for children undergoing chemotherapy treatments at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
“Contributing to Gabe’s Chemo Duck is part of CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. larger effort to support our community and give back to others,” said Dana Katterjohn, Regional Marketing Director for CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. “We are thankful to be able to bring the community together to help children who are facing one of life’s most difficult journeys.”
For more information or for sponsorship information, please visit www.GulfCoastTownCenter.com or www.ChemoDuck.org.
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