Paddle to Battle with Carolyn

Two local businesses are making a difference in the lives of a local family fighting for the life of their 4 year old daughter. Fitness Onboard and Sidelines Sports Bar and Restaurant are holding events to raise awareness of childhood cancer and to raise money to help with medical costs for Carolyn Hendrix, a 4 year old Pensacola girl diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a form of childhood cancer.

“There is nothing I wouldn’t do to help this family,” said Cindi Bonner, owner of Fitness Onboard. “Organizing a paddle out in her honor is a fun way to show our support for Carolyn and to raise awareness of childhood cancer. As long as Carolyn is fighting this cancer, the least we can do is to fight right alongside of her.”

While on vacation with her family in May, Carolyn Hendrix began complaining of a stomach ache. The day after she returned home, her parents, Jeff and Kathryn Hendrix, took her to the doctor who, suspecting appendicitis, sent her for a CT scan. The scan revealed a cancerous tumor that was later diagnosed as Ewings Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that occurs either in or around the bones.

Ewings Sarcoma affects approximately 250 children and adolescents each year. Typically it is found more in males than females and in children who are between the ages of 5-20 years old. While Carolyn was fortunate that her cancer was discovered in stage 1, her treatment will require nine months of inpatient five-day chemotherapy every two weeks. She will have the tumor surgically removed halfway through her chemotherapy treatment plan. Additionally, she frequently requires blood transfusions and expensive shots totaling roughly $550 every two weeks to restore her white blood count.

Fitness Onboard will be hosting “Paddle to Battle with Carolyn,” a moonlight paddle out to help raise donations for Carolyn and her family to help pay her medical bills, on Sunday, July 21, 2013 in Little Sabine Bay at Pensacola Beach. Food will be served at Landshark Landing at the Margaritaville Beach Hotel at 5:30 p.m. The paddle out will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Over 130 people have already registered for the event. Registration is $35 and includes a t-shirt and food. For more details and to register for the event, please visit http://www.prayingforcarolyn.com/paddle-to-battle-with-carolyn.html.

On Monday, July 22, 2013 Sidelines Sports Bar and Restaurant on Pensacola Beach will host “Dine in for Carolyn Day” from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. with 10 percent of their sales that day donated to help the Hendrixes with their medical bills.

“We have been touched by the overwhelming outpouring of support from our community in the fight for our daughter’s life,” explained Kathryn Hendrix, Carolyn’s mother. “That so many people, even complete strangers, have given of their time, money and talents to help our family is humbling beyond words. We are so grateful to this community for the love, moral support and generosity they have shown us.”

For more information on Carolyn Hendrix’s battle with Ewings Sarcoma and for ways you can help, please visit www.prayingforcarolyn.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/carolynprayers.