Marist Presents Honorary Diploma to Late Emily Beazley at Kures for Kids Fair

CHICAGO, IL -- Marist High School President Fr. Hank Hammer, fms, presented an honorary diploma to the late Emily Beazley at the second annual Kures for Kids Fair on Saturday.

The fair was Emily’s idea, who bravely fought but succumbed to Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in May 2015. Family, friends and community members started the fair off with a memorial service for the Mt. Greenwood girl in Marist’s Red and White Stadium. Emily’s favorite songs were played (she was especially fond of Taylor Swift).

Emily’s parents, Ed and Nadia, and kid sister, Olivia, and others from the event committee, spoke of Emily’s spirit and kindness during the service. It was Emily’s dream to start a foundation to find a cure for childhood cancer so that other kids wouldn’t have to endure painful cancer treatments.

Along with the diploma, Br. Hammer announced that Emily, who would have turned 14 this month, would receive honorary enrollment in the Marist Class of 2021, making her a permanent member of the Marist family.

“Marist provides a feeling of home for so many of our students, and we wanted the Beazleys to know Emily has a home here, too,” Br. Hammer said.

The Beazleys were moved by the gesture. Ed Beazley said that one of the fears of losing a child is that people will not remember her, but the diploma and enrollment were signs Emily would be remembered.

The crowd then launched hundreds of purple and green balloons into the sky as "When You Wish Upon a Star" played. The Beazleys invited everyone to enjoy the day. There were bouncy houses for kids, food, a vendor fair, games, raffles, and entertainment.

Last year’s Kures for Kids Fair, the first, raised over $65,000 for pediatric cancer research. All proceeds went toward Emily Beazley Demand for a Cure, a chapter of the Cure It Foundation.

Source: Marist High School