Payton Sernick continues to be a hard-working fundraiser and ambassador for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan (JPCHFS) with The Cancer Sucks Project.
Payton was at the Estevan Dairy Queen on Thursday for the Miracle Treat Day, in which the net proceeds of Blizzard treats were directed to the foundation. She greeted customers with the smile that has become so well known in the community, and served customers at both the front till and in the drive-thru.
“The community supports everybody so much, so it’s really nice to see,” said her mother, Andrea Sernick. “Everybody came in to get their Blizzards and any other ice cream treats, and from what I know, it was really successful.”
Payton was there from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., and helped sell a lot of Blizzard treats.
She was also selling fidget spinners, the toys that have quickly become popular with youths. The fidget spinners are the primary fundraiser for The Cancer Sucks Project this year, and proceeds will be directed to the CHFS.
“It is a small toy for kids,” said Andrea. “There are lots of therapeutic benefits to them as well, but we’re just using them as a fun toy. Everybody was trying to get their hands on them.”
Andrea said they have raised approximately $5,000 for the CFHS, which is a good figure, but the Sernick family set the goal a little higher this year.
“We had a nice little slogan that if you’re going to waste your money on these things, you might as well waste them with us, so we can get all of the money direct to the children’s hospital,” said Andrea.
The Sernicks have been to a handful of farmers’ markets and other outdoor markets. They have about 600 of the 2,000 spinners remaining, and she hopes they will be gone by the end of the summer.
The spinners are selling for $10 each.
Sernick said they wanted to have a slightly easier fundraiser this year after the success of the Cancer Sucks Campaign in 2016. Payton sold suckers and sparkle tattoos, and held a raffle for a playhouse, and raised more than $30,000 for the CHFS, crushing her goal of $5,000.
“We knew we wouldn’t come close to that this year, but we definitely wanted to try, because every dollar counts,” said Andrea.
Payton was diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma and leukemia in 2014. After undergoing treatment for cancer, she embarked on The Cancer Sucks Project last year.
The Sernicks view the new children’s hospital as a very important service for Saskatchewan. Now that it is visible and 58 per cent complete, people can see it taking shape.
“It’s a children’s hospital geared towards children, with a fun zone and an outdoor play area for patients … that a regular hospital just doesn’t have,” said Andrea. “I know my kids see the value of it, and I’m so excited other families and children are really getting to understand what this children’s hospital is going to mean for so many people.”
Payton and her brother, Beckham, have shared their excitement for the project with their friends, but Andrea said it’s important for everyone to know how important the hospital will be.
