Just a few weeks ago, The Produce Box returned as a bronze-level sponsor of the Isabella Santos Foundation 5K/10K Race for Kids Cancer for our second year. This awesome event in South Charlotte brings families together (and has for 8 years!) to raise both money and awareness for pediatric cancer.
The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is a nonprofit that raises funds for Neuroblastoma research, pediatric cancer and local children’s charities in memory of Isabella Santos who lost her 5-year battle with Neuroblastoma on June 28, 2012. Since it started in 2009, ISF has raised over $1 MILLION for Neuroblastoma research and local charities!!! How great is that?!
Courtney speaks for all of us at The Produce Box when she describes why we love to help out the Santos Foundation each year: “This cause is close to our heart. Almost two years ago, one of our amazing area managers, Lisa Holden, lost her sweet eight-year-old daughter, Melaney, to Neuroblastoma. When times were tough for the Holden family during their battle with cancer, we were so proud to see our Produce Box members step up and donate money to help them with their needs. Sponsoring this race is our way of continuing to honor Melaney and raise funds and awareness in the fight against childhood cancer.”
Melaney Jayne Holden passed away in December 2013, after battling stage 4 Neuroblastoma for 18 months. She was a second-grader at North Forest Pines Elementary School in Wake Forest, NC and loved her family, friends and life.
“Losing a child from cancer is just as surreal as having a child with cancer,” said Lisa. “The past three years have been the hardest years of my life. Our family gets up every day and puts one foot in front of the other. We are adjusting to our ‘new’ normal life without Melaney Jayne making wonderful memories with each other. We try to live each day to its fullest. Yet, the void of losing her will never be replaced and the experience of childhood cancer has scarred us all.”
The Isabella Santos Foundation’s flagship event is the 5K/10K Race for Kids Cancer. The Produce Box has been a proud sponsor of the race for two consecutive years and has donated and distributed apples to all of the participants. We have also brought apples to participants in the Komen Foundation Race for the Cure events across the state.
Thank you to our members for helping make that possible! Together we are affecting change – not just in how people eat and think about their food – but also in our communities every day!