Childhood cancer target of fundraiser
MIDDLESEX TWP — Late last year, Ford Bartle’s neuroblastoma cancer relapsed, and he had to go through some “really serious treatment” that lasted a few months.
Bobby Bartle, Ford’s dad, said the 5-year-old, who was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma in August 2019, when he was 2 years old, has been clear of cancer for most of 2022 and is now adjusting to preschool life.
“Since February, his scans have been clear, and he has remained clear,” Bobby said. “Since he has had clear scans, he has been generally very energetic, he is in preschool, playing soccer with the Mars Soccer Club, so he is being a kid.”
On Friday, the community celebrated Ford with a fundraiser, the Ford Tough Festival, at Freedom Farms. The second-annual event featured live music performances, food, hay rides, a silent auction and basket raffles.
After being diagnosed, Ford underwent chemotherapy and radiation at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and doctors said in March 2020 that he had no evidence of the cancer.
Ford’s mom, Carly Bartle, said the number of people who attended the event was uplifting, especially after the difficult time Ford had because of his cancer’s relapse. She said that seeing the event grow even larger in its second year was encouraging.
“He’s still fighting and all these people are fighting for him and other kids with cancer,” Carly said.
Bobby said the event raised more than $8,000 last year, and the family hoped to up that number this year, which is all donated to the New York-based childhood cancer research nonprofit Band of Parents. The festival raised money through donations, purchases at the event and the ever-popular raffle baskets, which feature items donated by the Steelers, Pirates and more.
“That's how we raised the most money last year,” Bartle said of the raffle baskets. “Everything we raise goes to childhood cancer initiatives; we don’t keep it, that’s not what it’s about.”
Carly also said the Band of Parents has helped her family through Ford’s difficult treatments, and she and Bobby are happy to be able to contribute back to the nonprofit, even slightly, through the Ford Tough Festival.
“Ford received that treatment, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the Band of Parents,” Carly said. “We only raise a fraction of their funding, but they have been such a big help to us.”
One of the big draws for the event this year and last is the singer Steve Moakler, a touring country artist from Pittsburgh, who Bobby said is popular with locals.
More than 100 people attended the Ford Tough Festival Friday, which the Bartles said was a good turnout. The people the family has met through Ford’s journey through cancer and treatment are a light in a dark time, Bobby said.
“It's a horrible situation we have had to go through,” he said. “The silver lining is the community support we have been getting. It's great to have everybody together for this event.”
