The ladies of the Tri Sigma Alpha Iota chapter have actually been holding a pancake dinner in the spring for several years now. In the past, proceeds from this philanthropy event have actually gone to their national philanthropy, Sigma Serves Children.
“Tri Sigma’s philanthropy ‘Sigma Serves Children’ came concerning through the Robbie Page Memorial,” said Shelby Smith, Tulsa senior and fundraising co-chair of Tri Sigma. “Robbie Paige was the Youngster of Tri Sigma’s 4th national president and he was diagnosed along with polio. He died at the age of 5, yet prior to he went, he told concerning his urge to recommendations children. Tri Sigma remembers Robbie by serving Youngsters in his honor. Sigma Serves Youngsters assists fund play rooms for play therapy for Youngsters at the Children’s Medical Focus in Dallas, Texas and N.C. Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, N.C.”
This year, the ladies of Tri Sigma referred to their pancake dinner as Flipppin’ Flapjacks for Tash.
“Tash is the 3 month old son of among our own, Nikole Lontz,” said Courtney Willis, Keys sophomore, fundraising chair of Tri Sigma. “Nikole graduated from NSU several years ago and is a member of our Alpha Iota chapter. Her son was pretty recently diagnosed along with infant leukemia and we wanted to have the ability to prove to our assist so we designated our proceeds from this event to go to Tash and his medical expenses.”
On January 3, at 8 weeks of age Tash Lontz was diagnosed along with infant leukemia.
“We asked the head of pediatric oncology at Florida Hospital exactly how several cases of infant leukemia they had seen,” said Nikole Lontz, Tash’s mother. “He responded, ‘2,’ this is a rare diagnosis.”
What began as Just what the parents hoped to be diagnosed as an infection at Florida Hospital, was rapidly proclaimed as leukemia.
Starting out their quest in St. Petersburg, Fla., where the Lontz resided, Nikole and her husband, Jonathan, rapidly decided to relocate Tash to St. Jude’s in Memphis, Tenn., where Tash has actually been for the majority of the last two months receiving treatments and close watch.
“I had enjoyed Nikole’s pregnancy progression through pictures on Facebook and knew she was so excited to have actually a little boy,” said Brenda Christie, Tulsa, member of Tri Sigma and Chapter Adviser. “It was so sad to observe this diagnosis and understand Just what her little one would certainly go through in order to grab well. After I got over my first shock, I realized that we (as Sigma sisters) were uniquely placed to recommendations Nikole and baby Tash. I shared the post along with the Chapter Advisory Board and had it posted on the alumnae Facebook page. I shared it along with Tabytha Russell (Alpha Iota, Tri Sigma president) and the chapter and started discussions concerning exactly how we could donate.”
The ladies of Tri Sigma held their event in the Baptist Collegiate Ministry building, otherwise called the BCM. On Feb. 17, from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., the community was welcome to come and go as they please and grab their fill of pancakes.
“At the end of the night, we raised $1, 1twenty which Will certainly go straight to Tash and his family,” said Willis. “We sold all of you can easily consume tickets for $5, which included toppings and a drink, and charged $8 for tickets if people wanted to enter the pancake consuming contest. We additionally had several generous donations, as well.”
Tash’s estimated road to recovery is projected to last 3 years.
Nikole is remaining completely in Memphis, yet Jonathan is travelling spine and forth. The couple have actually two others children, the 2 daughters, Sloane and Scout.
“The first treatment and time invested in Memphis is anticipated to be a minimum of 6 months,” said Christie. “Their continue to be in Memphis Will certainly consist of a small apartment and some meals, yet the family’s transportation to and from Memphis throughout the road of Nikole and Tash’s 6 month continue to be is not included.”
The ladies of Tri Sigma expressed their appreciation to the NSU and Tahlequah community for showing their assist for Tash at their event.
“As an adviser and member of Sigma, I am overwhelmed to observe the assist for this little boy and his mom,” said Christie. “Nikole started a blog and I have actually followed it for the past 3 weeks so I can easily continue to be up to date on Tash, his treatment and exactly how he is responding. Through the blog, I’ve seen a resilience in Nikole that is unmatched. She is away from her husband and daughters yet is remaining so strong.”
The Lontz family shared their gratitude at the amount of your hard earned cash that was raised at this event and the assist they have actually seen from the 2 the NSU community, also as the ladies of Tri Sigma.
“I can’t tell you exactly how touched I go to everyone’s generosity,” said Lontz.
At this time, Tash has actually now undergone 7 weeks of chemotherapy and others treatments.
“As his family says, each week of chemo brings him or her one week closer to remission,” said Christie.
For a lot more post concerning Tash’s journey, you can easily visit http://ift.tt/1TJhnTn, or you can easily enjoy the Facebook page, Tash Tuff.
