Newtown Youngster Organizes Kickball Party To Crush Pancreatic Cancer

NEWTOWN, PA — Newtown's Bridget Wittig celebrated her 11th birthday in a BIG way by hosting a kickball party to crush pancreatic cancer.

Bridget recruited her team, “The Elevenses,” and organized 'Kickin' For A Cause,' a party with a purpose. And she asked that instead of bringing gifts, that everyone donate to "A Love For Life," a Newtown-based nonprofit devoted to raising money to find a cure for pancreatic cancer.

"My Poppop died of pancreatic cancer before I was born. I'm sad I never met him," said Bridget. "My Aunt Jacci also got pancreatic cancer but she beat it. I want to raise money to find cures so other families don't lose loved ones to pancreatic cancer like my family did.

"Instead of getting presents, I asked everyone to give money to help find cures for cancer. I'd way rather have cures for cancer than more toys or clothes," she said. "It's really important to help others who are sick if you can. I felt really good raising money to help make that happen during my kickball party!"

Bridget’s mom, Danielle, said she's incredibly proud of her daughter "for turning her 11th birthday party into a pancreatic cancer fundraiser. She has always cared about helping others, even from a very young age. Her big heart and selfless spirit have always inspired me.”

"Kickin' For A Cause" raises money to fight pancreatic cancer. (Contributed)

She's also an inspiration to Christine Edmonds who founded A Love for Life in memory of her late husband, Kevin, who died from the disease in 2012. Since founding the organization, Edmonds has worked hard at raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of researchers and doctors at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

“I’ve known Bridget’s family for years but was so surprised to hear of their plan to turn a birthday into a way to help fund research. We are in the middle of November, which is pancreatic cancer awareness month, and we just presented Penn with a check for $100,000 from our 2023 fundraising efforts, so our thermometer will be reset.

"It’s amazing that an 11 year old will be the first to get started now that we are back to zero," said Edmonds, who will be working to raise another $100,000 for the researchers by this time next year..

"Bridget totally embodies our organization’s mission statement: 'Celebrating life and friendship and adventure while raising money for pancreatic cancer research,'” said Edmunds.