BLOOMSBURG -- September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Friday, for the first time, the Bloomsburg Fair raised money for the cause.
Since gold is the color used to symbolize the fight against childhood cancer, the fair observed "Going Gold for Gavin. "
The Bloomsburg Fair had a very special reason to go gold on Friday and raise money for pediatric cancer, and his name is Gavin Royer. Gavin is 5 years old and his parents are longtime vendors at the fair.
Gavin was diagnosed a few months ago with stage three brain cancer, and Friday, the fair went gold for Gavin.
It's hard not to smile when you're around 5-year-old Gavin Royer. But a few months ago, the Rroyer family, who live just outside State College did not have much to smile about. In March, Gavin was diagnosed with stage three brain cancer.
"Seven weeks of chemotherapy and 33 radiation treatments," Dan Royer said.
Gavin's parents have four food stands at the Bloomsburg Fair.
"The family has been on the fairgrounds for years and years and years," Bill Barratt said.
The fair's director of security Bill Barratt worked with the Royer family to come up with a fundraiser called "Going Gold for Gavin."
Students from Bloomsburg University volunteered their time at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds to raise money for Janet Weis Children's Hospital and a pediatric cancer charity called Go 4 the Goal.
"We got over 50 volunteers signed up in less than 48 hours," Caitlin Diehl said.
All day long, the fair raised money for pediatric cancer patients, all in honor of this very special boy.
"How are you feeling? Good! Just got here," Gavin said.
"A 5-year-old little boy that's just full of all kinds of hope and joy. Just a hero to me and a lot of other people," Royer said.
The Royer family has been a part of the Bloomsburg Fair family for more than 35 years. Gavin's dad says he is happy the fair dedicated this day to his son.
"Very rewarding. The cause is not out there enough. You don't know much about it until you're affected by it," Royer said.
The Royer family says Gavin's cancer is not yet in remission, but his doctors are happy with his progress. The family says they hope to make "Going Gold for Gavin" an annual event at the Bloomsburg Fair.