‘Worth more than gold’: Event celebrating children battling cancer takes place in Tyler

TYLER, Texas ( KETK ) – September marks the beginning of childhood cancer awareness month and an East Texas organization kicked off the month of awareness with an event in Tyler.

Gold Network of East Texas held their annual “Go Gold on the Square ” event in downtown Tyler to honor children and their families. The event offered free activities, food and the spotlight to walk down the gold carpet.

“It’s amazing just to see joy on these kids’ faces. They love to get up there on the gold carpet and have their moment,” Heather Rucker, co-founder of Gold Network East Texas, said.

Eight year old Cami Clements felt all the excitement running down the gold carpet.  She recently got the news that she is now a cancer survivor.

“Kicked cancer,” Cami said.

The Gold Network is a nonprofit that serves more than 100 families in East Texas whose children are going through or survived any form of cancer.

“Our children get to play and be children because you don’t get a normal childhood life when you’re in treatment — when the hair is grown back now and we look like a typical kid, but when we don’t have hair you come here and you see other kids with no hair so it’s not odd to be at home and have other kids that look like you,” Cami’s mom, Cynthia Clements, said.

The organization’s mission is to be a support system for families that are going through the darkest times of their life.

“Childhood cancer is real. It’s not just random commercials with little bald kids. We’ve had nine diagnosis since the month of June just in East Texas,” said Rucker.

It was a night filled with fun activities, so that no one had to think about anything hospital related. It’s a reminder that these families are not alone and is “Your child is worth more than gold.”

Even after fighting cancer, Cami is still a member of go Gold East Texas.

The Organization’s largest fundraiser of the year is their 5K “Gold Run” which will take place on Sept. 21. Registration for the event is open .

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