He’s a calendar boy in battle against cancer
Niagara’s Hammond diagnosed with rare and aggressive type of disease at 22 months of age
Ten-year-old Griffin Hammond loves a challenge.
While he welcomes working toward his next belt in karate or facing his next competitor in chess, his biggest challenge to date has been fighting — and beating — cancer.
The Niagara Falls boy was diagnosed with orbital rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive type of cancer, when he was 22 months old.
He underwent 48 weeks of chemotherapy and 25 radiation treatments to his face and is now cancer free.
The Hammond family — Griffin and his parents, Emily and Marty — are grateful for the support they received from Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer. The charity offers free programs and services to families affected by childhood cancer.
The agency recently released a 2021 calendar featuring 12 children from across the province, including Griffin.
“We feel honoured to be able to help such a wonderful cause,” said Emily.
“OPACC helped us a lot when Griffin was fighting cancer and continues to help our family and community to this day.”
All proceeds from calendar sales will support various programs and services, including in-hospital support, commu
nity-based childhood cancer parent support groups, hospital parking reimbursements and advocacy on issues of importance to families.
“With COVID cutbacks, funding is really down for charities, so it is really important to support projects like OPACC,” Emily said.
“OPACC supports our Niagara families in lots of different ways, from food and gas gift cards to holiday cheer bags to cancer resources and support.”
Meanwhile, the Hammond family has pledged to support other families affected by cancer through their Courage Cape Project.
After Griffin completed chemotherapy, a friend made him a cape and “he put on his cape and marched out of the hospital ward, never looking back,” Emily recalled.
As nurses clapped and cheered, one nurse suggested every child needs a cape. “I dragged out my rusty old sewing machine and, along with help from my mom and a lot of dedicated cancer moms and supporters, we have donated hundreds of handmade Courage Capes to Ronald Mcdonald House in Hamilton,” Emily said.
Now, when a family checks in to Ronald Mcdonald House, each child, including siblings, is offered a cape.
“Every sick or injured child should have a cape to honour their bravery and courage while staying at the hospital,” Emily said.
Established in1995, OPACC comprises parents, guardians, survivors, or close relatives of a child or teen diagnosed with cancer. In addition to in-hospital support through a parent liaison program, the charity works with community-based parent support groups to ensure families are supported once they are back home.
There are support groups across the province including in Niagara Falls, Hamilton, Kitchener-waterloo and Toronto.
For further information, and to order a calendar, visit www.opacc.org.