PEARSON, Ga. (WALB) - A fundraiser in Coffee County – Coins for Childhood Cancer Group – has raised $90,000 for local families facing childhood cancer.

This all started when Amy Toribio, a Pearson Elementary School student, was diagnosed with Leukemia. A teacher at the elementary school, Deborah Moore, started raising money for Toribio’s family.

“She was two years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia. She started with fevers that wouldn’t go away, she was getting worse by the minute,” said Abigail Toribio, Amy’s mother.

In 2019, Amy was facing a fight that no child should have to endure. Instead of enjoying the simple joys of childhood, she and her family had to pass the time in a hospital room. But they wouldn’t face this battle alone.

Moore saw a need in her community to support families affected by childhood cancer. After donating to organizations that provided aid worldwide, she realized the importance of helping closer to home.

That effort eventually became Coins for Childhood Cancer Group. Collectively, the group raised $90,000 in just one month for families in Coffee County and surrounding counties.

“We started the Coins for Childhood Cancer fundraiser and this money is donated to the childhood cancer awareness group of Coffee County. We are in Atkinson County, but the Coffee County group helps all the surrounding counties any families that are in need that have children with childhood cancer,” she said.

Adjusting to Amy’s diagnosis became a balancing act for Abigail. Finding time for treatments, making sure the rest of her family was cared for, and navigating a new way of life seemed overwhelming.

“She had to stay in the hospital for a month I think, when she was first diagnosed so being gone for my other children and staying home having someone watching my children while we were trying to figure out what was going to happen to Amy,” said Abigail.

For families like Amy’s, CCGCC lines up jars and fills them with spare change. Because of these donations, they have been able to sign checks for thousands of dollars to support this cause.

“I am happy everyone prayed for me....I am so happy to be healthy,” said Amy.

Just one coin can help change the lives of kids like Amy.

There are donation buckets placed around the school to benefit Coins to Childhood Cancer.

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