HASTINGS, Mich. – Allison Wilbur turns 12 years-old this January. This will be her third birthday she has asked her parents not to give her presents and asks others to give back.
When Allison started to research childhood cancers, that’s when she asked for her birthday present, she said.
“I’m collecting for childhood cancer research, and I’m going to donate it to DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids,” said Allison. “Instead of getting birthday gifts, because you get them every year and then you keep getting stuff piled and piled that you don’t even really use, and some people don’t even that much stuff.”
According to curechildhoodcancer.org, only three percent of federal funding for cancer research goes toward childhood cancers. That’s why Allison is determined to raise funds.
It’s a birthday wish Allison said she intends to ask for each year.
“Then to hear, ‘What can I do for my thirteenth birthday?' before the twelfth birthday is even here, is wow,” said Angie Wilbur, Allison’s mother.
Allison says she has passed her goal of raising $750 for childhood cancer research, raising $759.51 as of Sunday. Allison has a GoFundMe page calledAllison’s Wish for a Cure! She also plans to stand at the corner of Jefferson Road and State Street in downtown Hastings throughout January to raise even more money.
“Childhood cancer research in general, there’s a lot more of that needs to be done, and she’s the one to get it going,” said Angie.
Allison said she was initially inspired when she saw a girl on Facebook collecting Barbie dolls without hair for children with cancer. As of now, Allison has caused a chain reaction for her friends; several of whom have taken to raising money for a good cause on their birthdays now, too.
