SARASOTA – Selby Gardens transformed into a magical storybook setting Saturday night to help raise funds for pediatric cancer research.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens was transformed into ‘The Giant Peach’ in honor of Benjamin Gilkey, A nine year old who lost his battle to pediatric cancer five years ago.
“Benjamin was diagnosed in 2015 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, he had a courageous two year battle with the disease, during which he never lost his joy for life he was always very positive and spicy through the whole process,” said Benjamin’s Aunt, Sarah Hinds.
The Benjamin Gilkey Foundation for Pediatric Cancer research was started shortly after Benjamin passed.
“The fund has actually raised over a million dollars that has gone to some amazing research in which were looking at bone marrow transplants and immunotherapy specifically referencing the body’s opportunity to use its own immune system to fight cancer,” said Associate Director of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation, Julie Riddle.
During his battle with the cancer, Benjamin read nearly every Roald Dahl book, his favorite, James and the Giant Peach was brought to life at Selby Gardens, Saturday.
“There’s peach themed drink, there’s a peach themed menu, there’s all of the insects from the book come to life, which are actually Benji’s childhood friends that are in costume and going to be performing tonight, live music, so really everything has been thought out,” said Hinds.
The goal is to help aid research so that kids with cancer like Benji’s get better
“For existing medicine to be used in new and innovative ways and for new medicines and therapies to be developed and basically for these young, brilliant doctors to be able to have a playground in which to find cures,” said Hinds.
“It’s so very important to raise money for this cause, because we don’t want that to happen, we want every child to survive,” said Family Friend, Kenji Trujillo.
To learn more about Benjamin Gilkey Fund you can visit the website here.
