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Register today for the 16th Annual Liberty Ball!
The 16th Annual Liberty Ball will be held virtually on Saturday, February 27, beginning at 7:00 pm EST.
The gala's annual traditions will live on with music from Second Vision, a presentation from Four Diamonds, the Four Diamonds Family of the Year, the Kayla Nakonechni Knight Award, and our great silent auction!
Since the first Liberty Ball in 2006, our supporters have helped us raise more than $365,000. We are proud of our gala's rich history in the Philadelphia area, raising money and awareness for Four Diamonds and Penn State THON. Although we cannot celebrate our efforts in person this year, we hope you will continue with us in the fight as we work to conquer pediatric cancer.
All of the 16th Annual Liberty Ball Silent Auction items are now LIVE!!
Attendees will have from until 7:45 pm on Saturday, February 27th to participate in the auction!
To bid on our great Silent Auction items:
1. Click 'Items' on the top tab.
2. If you purchased a ticket, sign in using your login information at the top.
(If you have not purchased a ticket, you may still create an account and bid on items, but you will not receive the webinar link unless you purchase a ticket to the Gala.)
3. Start bidding!
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Four Diamonds Family of the Year: The Ayden Gora Family
The Liberty Ball is honored to have the Ayden Gora Family as Liberty Ball's 2021 Four Diamonds Family! Below is Ayden and his family's story, from his mom, Nicole. Nicole and Ayden will be joining us the night of Liberty Ball as well to tell their story.
Ayden was a typical toddler, fun loving, healthy, and carefree. He was super excited about being a big brother to his new sister, Zayla. Stan and I were so grateful to have a son and daughter and were adjusting to the fun and excitement of having two little ones. Then, on February 24, 2013, three months after Ayden turned two (when his sister was just 6-months-old), Ayden's eye swelled shut. After two trips to doctors in two days, he was sent to the hospital for IV antibiotics, as they thought he had an eye infection. There, after bloodwork was done, we heard the words leukemia and chemotherapy. These were words that we didn't even fully understand at that point, let alone comprehend hearing them in regards to our little boy.
Ayden was transferred to Hershey Medical Center immediately. We met the amazing doctors there late that night and he started chemotherapy that very next morning. He spent so many days and nights of the next few years at Hershey, it became our second home. The incredible nurses became our family and our teachers. Ayden learned the names of colors from the caps on the tubes his blood was put in, after taken from the port that went into his heart, used for blood draws and chemotherapy. He learned to count by counting down to needle sticks and counting hospital rooms in the hall. He and Zayla, grew up in that hospital over the next three years. His planned chemotherapy was to last 3 ½ years, however, his cancer had other plans. He relapsed when he was 5, while still on daily, weekly, and monthly chemotherapy. While the first three years were very difficult, relapse and achieving remission a second time were ever harder. Thankfully, a clinical trail at CHOP has given us the blessing of Ayden's health today, and we are so grateful and hopeful that he will remain healthy.
We were relieved there was a "standard treatment" for Ayden's type of cancer. Standard treatments are not available for all childhood cancers and, as we learned, the ones that are available, are not always enough. Because of generous donors providing funding, Four Diamonds researchers continue to develop more clinical trials and work toward better, more effective, and safer treatments, which are so greatly needed. Ayden was running out of options; no child should run out of options. Hershey Medical Center is working toward that goal and we are so deeply thankful to everyone who supports the Four Diamonds Fund, as they truly are helping save lives!
Kayla Nakonechni Knight Award Recipient: Beads for a Cure
We are excited to announce the 2021 Kayla Nakonechni Knight Award Recipient, Beads for a Cure!
Beads for a Cure was started by three high school students in Havertown, Pennsylvania, after their friend Lily was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March. Sitting by her side are two pieces of strong evidence to support her. The first is Hannah, who survived Lymphoma. The other is Sydney, who beat Leukemia twice.
The three friends created the Instagram account, @beadsforacure_, to raise awareness and sell merchandise to fundraise on behalf of the cause. Creating and selling t-shirts, bracelets and keychains, they raised over $2,000 for child life services at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Beads for a Cure was featured on 6abc in September.
We are honored to present the Kayla Nakonechni Knight Award at the 16th Annual Liberty Ball to these amazing students and brave fighters!
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