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WEST ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
From one inspirational teenager in St. Louis, grew an army of caring crusaders. They hope to find a cure for pediatric cancer, but until then they are helping kids with cancer just be kids. If only April 24, 2010 could have been like April 25, 2009. Back then, CJ Aubuchon was at a walk for his favorite charity, Friends of Kids with Cancer. The 2009 walk was the day before his 19th birthday.
"You can still picture him getting out of the car, into the wheelchair," remembers his mother Jeanine, "and he was so excited to see all his friends,"
But in the crowd excited to see him were strangers, who would soon be friends.
"He changed my life," says Regina Jenkins. She saw a news story about CJ's battle with cancer and his insurance company and went tot he 2009 walk just to meet CJ.
"Meeting someone that young that had way more faith and gumption than I ever had," she says, through tears. "I'll never forget him."
CJ died three weeks after the 2009 walk.
But April 24, 2010, Regina was back at the same spot, sitting under the same tent, with CJ's family and friends, taking part in the Friends of Kids with Cancer fundraising walk. 150 people walked on CJ's team, raising money for him. They will always be inspired by him.
"Last year we raised 17 hundred dollars, this year two thousand dollars," says CJ's sister Michelle.
Friends of Kids with Cancer gives kids with cancer and their families a chance to have fun. They give toys to children in chemo, as well as giving tickets to concerts or sporting events to families. And the money CJ's team raised will go far.
"They're just amazing people, so full of love for everyone and what they do for other children now in memory of CJ is just incredible," says Friends of Kids with Cancer Executive Director Judy Ciapciak.
Regina Jenkins was so inspired by CJ that she has a new mission. "My whole crusade now is to help kids with cancer, and try to help anyone I can understand how important it is"
"We raised two thousand dollars in one day for a young girl named Alicia, and Friends of Kids with Cancer, and St. Baldricks. It just keeps on snowballing and it all came from CJ. I believe it all came from CJ."
"I believe it does," says Jeanine. "It trickles down."
"That's our goal," says Michelle, "We ultimately want to raise awareness and money to help with childhood cancer."
With more than one thousand walkers, Saturday's walk was the biggest Friends of Kids with Cancer has ever had.
"You can still picture him getting out of the car, into the wheelchair," remembers his mother Jeanine, "and he was so excited to see all his friends,"
But in the crowd excited to see him were strangers, who would soon be friends.
"He changed my life," says Regina Jenkins. She saw a news story about CJ's battle with cancer and his insurance company and went tot he 2009 walk just to meet CJ.
"Meeting someone that young that had way more faith and gumption than I ever had," she says, through tears. "I'll never forget him."
CJ died three weeks after the 2009 walk.
But April 24, 2010, Regina was back at the same spot, sitting under the same tent, with CJ's family and friends, taking part in the Friends of Kids with Cancer fundraising walk. 150 people walked on CJ's team, raising money for him. They will always be inspired by him.
"Last year we raised 17 hundred dollars, this year two thousand dollars," says CJ's sister Michelle.
Friends of Kids with Cancer gives kids with cancer and their families a chance to have fun. They give toys to children in chemo, as well as giving tickets to concerts or sporting events to families. And the money CJ's team raised will go far.
"They're just amazing people, so full of love for everyone and what they do for other children now in memory of CJ is just incredible," says Friends of Kids with Cancer Executive Director Judy Ciapciak.
Regina Jenkins was so inspired by CJ that she has a new mission. "My whole crusade now is to help kids with cancer, and try to help anyone I can understand how important it is"
"We raised two thousand dollars in one day for a young girl named Alicia, and Friends of Kids with Cancer, and St. Baldricks. It just keeps on snowballing and it all came from CJ. I believe it all came from CJ."
"I believe it does," says Jeanine. "It trickles down."
"That's our goal," says Michelle, "We ultimately want to raise awareness and money to help with childhood cancer."
With more than one thousand walkers, Saturday's walk was the biggest Friends of Kids with Cancer has ever had.
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