Cassidy's Hope Foundation to raise money through poker run for Brunswick teenager who has cancer

BRUNSWICK — Cassidy's Hope Foundation's annual poker run will raise money for a Brunswick teenager who has cancer. Pam Czech is the founder of Cassidy's Hope Foundation. The nonprofit is in honor of her daughter Cassidy Jackson, who had cancer and died in April 2006 at 12. "She wanted to help other families that were going through childhood cancer," she said. "I fortunately was able to stay at the hospital with her, but a lot of families weren't because they had to work, so a lot of the kids were alone. She felt bad, so she wanted to give them money." The first poker run happened in July 2006, and the foundation became a nonprofit a few months later, Czech said. On top of helping families, Cassidy's Hope Foundation also delivers gifts to children's hospitals and donates money to the Brain Tumor Consortium for research. The 19th annual poker run will take place on Saturday. Czech said registration and the riders' first card pick will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Family Tavern at 1868 Pearl Road in Brunswick. The cost is $20 per rider, and motorcycles and cars can take part. At each of the following stops, participants will pick a poker card: The Bulldog Pub and Grille at 108 E. Main St. in LaGrange. Fort's Old Town Tavern at 122 W. Herrick Ave. in Wellington. Geno's 2.0 at 7091 Lafayette Road in Lafayette Township. The poker run ends at the Caddyshak Inn at 1429 W. 130th St. in Hinckley where there will be food, raffles and entertainment starting at 4 p.m. Those who just want dinner can pay $15 for a cookout featuring burgers, chicken, sides and dessert. "We always offer our child a special table and everything," she said. "They usually come, and they have a wonderful time. Everybody falls in love with them." This year's run will benefit 16-year-old Taylor Deskins-Howington who has Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a rare disorder. Czech said she is expecting a large turnout for this year's event because it is benefiting someone locally. "The amount of stress that comes with a child with cancer is unbelievable," she said. "It's all to support this little girl." All the money raised from the event goes to the family, Czech said. About $10,000 has been raised each year for the past three years, and the family is allowed to spend it how they see fit. "We have no restrictions because these kids have battled and fought …" she said. "If they want to take that child on vacation, then they can do that, and if they want to pay medical bills, they can … From experience, sometimes it's more important to make your kid happy than pay bills." For more information on Cassidy's Hope Foundation and the event, visit tinyurl.com/bdzc9fn3. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.