Bouncing Out Cancer
Bouncing Out Cancer
Kids Carnival to Support P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative
The Carnival is being held in honor of Cardell Shinners, pictured above with his mother Kerstin Shinners (L) and his little sister (R). Photo / Kerstin Shinners.
The first annual Bouncing Out Cancer Kids Carnival is taking place on Saturday, August 24th from noon to 5:00pm at the Seneca Arts & Learning Center at 25 Center Street in Salamanca. Event organizer Kerstin Shinners said, “We are hosting it as a family in honor of my son, Cardell, who passed away from pediatric cancer in January of this year.” The carnival, which will be held each August in honor of Cardell’s birthday month, supports P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative.
P.U.N.T. is a public charity founded in 2004 by former NFL Pro Bowl Punter Brian Moorman, who played for the Buffalo Bills from 2001 to 2013, along with his wife, Amber. Shinners said the organization was a tremendous support to her and her family throughout her son’s battle with Diffuse Midline Glioma, a type of brain cancer.
“We’re raising the funds for the pediatric cancer collaborative just because they do so much for all families who are facing the challenge of having to go through something as horrific as this,” she explained. “They do anything from paying a bill to paying for funeral expenses, to providing families with gift cards, food vouchers, parking vouchers for while they’re at the hospital. It’s our way as a family to give back to the group who has helped us in so many ways, just to make sure that there’s always funds available for the next family who’s going to be facing these challenges as well.”
August 20th would be Cardell’s fifth birthday, and Shinners explained that each year, the carnival will take place around that date. “This is in honor of him, just because he loved to have fun and we figured he’ll forever be a four-year-old little boy,” said Shinners. There will be plenty of fun to be had! The carnival will include bounce houses, water slides, inflatable games, cotton candy, snow cones, face painting, reptile displays, a petting zoo, food, and more.
There is no admission charge for the carnival but admission as donations is encouraged. “We will also have basket raffles and a silent auction,” said Shinners. Any individuals or organizations who would like to donate a gift basket, gift certificate, or any item of their choice or who would like to volunteer on the day of the carnival can contact Shinners at 716-801-6768 (call or text). Shinners encourages those who may be unable to attend the event to donate directly to P.U.N.T. on the organization’s website at www.puntpediatriccancer.org. Shinners added, “When you make an online donation, there’s a spot where you can write a note, so you can write that you’re doing it on behalf of yourself or in memory of Cardell Johnson, or whoever you would like.”
For more information, check out the Bouncing Out Cancer for Kids Carnival event on Facebook.