Sophomore Karsyn Eubank, senior Nina Callaway and the rest of the Fabulous Faith Jr. Board gathered at Mama Angie’s for the first annual Cornhole for Kids’ Cancer event. Starting at 2 p.m., supporters gathered to eat, play cornhole and raise money for the foundation.
Fabulous Faith’s Foundation functions as a non-profit organization in support of childhood cancer. Local high school students run a Junior Board, hosting their own events and meetings a few times a year. Karsyn Eubank serves as the president and social media director for the board.
“I loved the idea and loved helping and fundraising, so I was super excited to start the first year of the Jr. Board,” Eubank said. “The foundation means so much to me.”
Doctors diagnosed Eubank with Leukemia at just five years old. She uses her role in the foundation to highlight the realities of childhood cancer and the ways people can help. Events such as Cornhole for Kids’ Cancer help gain support for the board.
“It was such a hit,” Eubank said. “My goals for the foundation are to of course raise as much money as we can and to have successful events that are being held, like Cornhole for Kid’s Cancer.”
The Cornhole for Kids’ Cancer took place at Mama Angie’s. Supporters came for the tournament, raffle and food. Around 60 people attended, and the foundation raised $4,500.
“The Jr. Board’s overall goal is to raise money for childhood cancer and show that it isn’t rare, it is the number one cause of death by disease in children,” Eubank said. “I also want us to use our social media to educate people about childhood cancer and share the good, bad, ugly and pretty.”
Senior Nina Callaway has volunteered with the foundation since its creation in 2016. Callaway’s mom, Angela Callaway, and Ruth Lautzenheiser founded Fabulous Faith in honor of Lautzenheiser’s daughter Faith, who passed away in 2013 from Osteosarcoma.
“For me, the foundation has always been very personal,” Callaway said. “Faith was such a light to people around her and so working to bring more funding and awareness to kids and families in similar situations is the least I can do to honor her.”
Callaway grew up seeing her mom work and plan events for the foundation, and eventually, Lautzenheiser asked her about starting a Jr. Board. The Cornhole event stands as their biggest fundraiser yet, although they’ve hosted smaller ones in the past.
“After the foundation was started I watched the hard work my mother and the executive board put into each day and planning events, however, being as young as I was, I couldn’t do much,” Callaway said. “Now that we’ve built up the Jr Board, it’s a way for me and the other girls to take our passion and help others as best as we can.”
Callaway hopes the foundation, specifically the Jr. Board, will bring awareness about childhood cancer to people her age. Although local and national nonprofits accept donations, she believes the next best thing, and perhaps the easiest for younger people, is to volunteer with groups like the Fabulous Faith’s Foundation.
“For students both at Legacy and in other schools the most helpful thing would be raising awareness and possibly volunteering when we do have upcoming events,” Callaway said. “Any help that people may feel compelled to give is always welcome and appreciated as we are still growing.”
Four girls on the Jr. Board attend Legacy, but other high school students from the area also hold different roles within the foundation. Volunteer opportunities will arise as the board plans more fundraisers and events in the future.
“Because of what I have gone through, making a difference through fundraising for childhood cancer, and showing people that it is a real thing and not rare has and will always be very important to me,” Eubank said. “Fabulous Faith’s Foundation allows me to do that with some of my closest friends, and I will forever be grateful for that.”
