The pleading started as soon as it was time to go. Emma Walker did not want to leave the playground Friday afternoon.
The exuberant 3-year-old had bounced from swing to climbing wall with the speed of a bobcat. She looked like anything but a cancer patient.
“It’s been a rough year and a half,” said mother Holly Walker. “Through all of this, she has managed to keep me going. Even with her treatments, she’s never seemed to let it bother her. It’s been a ride that’s for sure, but the prognosis is good for her to make a full recovery.”
Emma has 10 treatments remaining as she fights leukemia and Holly says she’s been responding extremely well thus far. Holly signed up to lead a Relay for Life team for the first time last year. She said she had always attended Relay for Life events at the WCMS track, but wasn’t sure how fundraising worked.
“I was sitting in a hospital with her when I signed up to do a team,” said Holly. “It was called Emma’s Mousketeers. I’d never done anything like that before but we raised $7,000.”
Walker is accepting a greater role with Relay for Life this year. She wants to get the word out that recruiting teams for this year’s event is under way for any church, school, business, or family which would like to participate. Relay for Life is set for Friday, June 3 at Nunley Stadium.
Relay for Life is touted as one of the American Cancer Society’s signature events. Anyone who would like more information about signing up a team can visit relayforlife.org/warrentn or contact Walker at 743-7962.