The ACU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will conduct a walk/run to grant a wish in honor of Tatum Fleming, a curly-haired, 4-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Running for a Wish: SAAC host run to grant wish for local girl
Team Tatum Walk/Run for a Wish will take place May 7 at 8 a.m. at the Elmer Gray Stadium.
Tatum, also known as Tater Cakes, hopes to visit a magical world full of princesses and fairy-tale creatures. The Make-A-Wish Foundation will try to fulfill her dream with a trip to Disney World.
“During her interview, she talked about going to the beach, swimming with mermaids and meeting princesses,” said Mandy Fleming, Tatum’s mother.
SAAC hopes this fundraiser will be a way to connect the whole community in a good cause for Tatum.
“It’s a chance to express the heart of ACU as a whole community and help a child in need,” said Kelsie Edwards, a member of SAAC and junior speech pathology major from Highlands Ranch, Colo.
The student organization has supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the past, but now has decided to take on a bigger commitment by adopting a child.
“We have to do more,” Edwards said. “So we decided to go further by adopting Tatum and her dream with Make-A-Wish.”
SAAC has put on several fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for Tatum’s wish.
“This is our last chance and biggest fundraiser to make Tatum’s wish come true,” Edwards said.
The Fleming family is thankful for SAAC and their efforts to raise money for children like Tatum.”It’s such an honor to be picked out of all the families in Abilene,” Fleming said.But Tatum’s biggest wishes isn’t swimming with mermaids.
“My dream come true would be to never had noodles or pokes ever again,” said Tatum Fleming.
Her noodle is the tube from which she receives all her medicine during treatment. Tatum is in remission but still has about year and half of treatment left.
The group has raised about half of the funds needed to grant Tatum’s wishes. The deadline to sign up for the walk/run is May 6 and costs $15. Participants also can sign up the day of the event 7-7:45 a.m. for $20. The first 150 people to sign up receive a free T-shirt.
Those who can’t make it to the race can head to Rosa’s Cafe to help SAAC send Tatum to the Magical Kingdom. The restaurant will donate 15 percent of guest receipts with the presentation of a flier, which can be found on the myACU page’s log-in ads. Contact Kelsie Edwards at kle08a@acu.edu for more information about how to register.
Learn more about Tatum’s story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozlDQkawmLY&feature=youtu.be&hd=1
