Local moms decorate the Crack the Whip sculpture in downtown Columbus in preparation for the inaugural Childhood Cancer Awareness Prayer event last September nearby on the steps of City Hall.
Local parents who have lost children to cancer are planning a second annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Community Prayer event next month on the steps of Columbus City Hall, 123 Washington St.
The event will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15. It is presented by the Well Yeah Ariel Roberts Foundation, named in memory of the Columbus North High School senior cheerleader who died in January 2023 after she was diagnosed a year earlier with an inoperable glioblastoma.
Event sponsors include Elevate Childhood Cancer Research and Advocacy Inc., GLOW like Sarah Foundation, Hayle Elmore Bakes and Bridge FM. Elevate is run by Robyn Spoon of Columbus, whose son Justin died at 24 in March 2023 from a rare cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. GLOW is a nonprofit operated by Kim Taylor of Hope, named in honor of her daughter, Sarah Taylor, who died from osteosarcoma in 2020 at age 14.
Carrie Roberts, Aerial’s mother and founder of the foundation in her name, said this year’s event is inviting people who have a child who has fought or is fighting cancer to let the community know about it by visiting wellyeah-arielrobertsfoundation.com/upcoming-events, so that local children and families can be recognized at this year’s event.
Roberts said organizers hope to have signs honoring local children at city hall during the event that last year attracted about 80-90 people, including local clergy who offered prayers. The event coincides with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, observed in September, and is signified by gold ribbons.
“It went so well and we had such a good response,” Roberts said of last year’s event. “It was short and sweet, but seemed to have a lot of meaning … we’re excited to keep it going.”
More people are anticipated this year, and Roberts said that’s expected to include people who may not have been touched by cancer but who want to show their support.
“It’s a good way to bring on awareness and get the community to love on people out there who are struggling who they may not even know,” Roberts said.
