EP's Christmas Without Cancer Gets Help from Whitney's Warriors

Whitney Davis heals herself by looking out for others, which is a family trait.

One would think an eight-year old diagnosed with Leukemia in mid-summer would be self-absorbed with health challenges. This is not the case for the youngest daughter of Erin Kading-Davis and Maurice Davis of Mount Greenwood.

Whitney’s inclination to take care of others has been therapeutic in navigating through the many stages of Leukemia treatments en route to a full recovery next spring.

Whitney’s older sister Madeline deserves credit, too, having conceptualized fundraising efforts under the guise of Whitney’s Warriors to host “Cocoa For A Cause” earlier this month.

Madeline and Erin told Whitney their fundraising efforts would require her to select a charity for donation, followed by a request for a modest gift for herself.

Christmas Without Cancer was Whitney’s first choice, reasoning: “They help families to pay their bills and they give special treats to kids."

For her second choice, Whitney selected a betta fish because “it was a pet I could take care of all by myself."

That the multi-colored, exotic fish matched the painted walls of her bedroom earned “Billy the Betta Fish” a prime location on the bedside table, next to Whitney’s bed and pillow.

“Whitney went to Animal Crackers and picked out a $9 betta fish,” said Erin of the red, white and purple pet. “The rest of the money raised is for families in need at Christmas.”

According to experts, betta fish “can recognize their human guardians” and swim excitedly when they see them approaching. Billy would appear to be in good hands with the level of empathy in the Davis home.

“Ever since Whitney was born she was like my little buddy,” said Madeline, a St. Laurence sophomore and student-athlete. “It really shook us all up when it happened.”

As summer gave way to the fall and cooler weather, the family’s plan to raise funds for Christmas Without Cancer with a lemon-aid stand turned to hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows.

“It was a big hit,” said Madeline.

Teachers, coaches and athletic administrators at Saint Laurence took up the cause, posting on social media a splendid “Cocoa for a Cause” poster created by Madeline.

On Saturday, November 14th Whipple Street near 108th played host to Saint Laurence students, who arrived at scattered times to keep social distancing on a chilly and windy afternoon.

“The Saint Laurence students and their families were so generous,” said Christmas Without Cancer founder Gerri Neylon. “Erin and her husband Maurice have done a wonderful job raising those little girls. Some of Whitney’s friends were seeing her for the first time in a while, and even then she was all bundled up in the cold.”

Madeline’s softball coach at Saint Laurence, Teagan Walsh, was taken by the Cocoa for a Cause initiative and volunteered to push the effort for her player.

“Madeline epitomizes what we hope for at Saint Laurence – taking care of family,” said Walsh of Merrionette Park. “When you check all the boxes for what makes a great Saint Laurence student, that’s what you get in Madeline. It made me proud to be able to support her.”

Walsh took the Madeline-designed poster and gave it traction on her own social media outlets through sports and beyond. Postings on the football site moved the ball up field just as quickly.

Soon a buzz worked its way through the Saint Laurence family and a simple Saturday noon date became an event on Whipple Street in Mount Greenwood, where hot chocolate turned proceeds into important funding for Christmas Without Cancer families, save for a $9 fish for Whitney.

School sports administrator and Madeline’s golf coach, Jim Tracy, saw firsthand the groundswell of support building earlier this month.

“First and foremost we look for our student athletes to be leaders and Madeline is just that,” said Tracy. “The willingness of the student body to give back and support the family speaks volumes to what the school is all about.”

Christmas Without Cancer identifies need and then provides gifts and basic necessities to Chicagoland families with members stricken with cancer so to allow the beauty of Christmas to shine through while family members find comfort in their devotion to one another.
For more information, visit www.ChristmasWithoutCancer.org