Three Orem schools host fundraiser for girl with cancer

Lifted up by the generosity of supporters from three Orem schools, 4-year-old McKenna Goates will get her wish to be a Disney princess.

In February, the 4-year-old was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called clear-cell sarcoma of the left kidney. The cancer attacked her kidney and some lymph nodes. Since then, she has gone through chemotherapy -- which resulted in the loss of her hair -- the removal of her left kidney, and more chemotherapy and radiation, said her mother, Darlene Goates.

Because the treatments have weakened her immune system, McKenna must avoid being around groups of other children -- including preschool and dance class -- to avoid infections that could affect her health.

"She's an amazing girl, she keeps a good attitude and is very happy," Darlene said. "It's hard to watch your child go through so much pain and be so isolated. ... You never realize in your wildest dreams that you child will get cancer."

After learning of the young girl's fight against cancer, the three Orem schools opted to make her the recipient of the annual Family Fun Run benefit event on Nov. 10, which involved students, faculty and community supporters from Mountain View High School, Lakeridge Junior High School and Orem Elementary School.

Carol Jean Bishop, chairwoman of the schools' PTA family life commission, said the number of participants -- 680 runners and walkers -- was nearly three times the number that normally attend. More than $4,000 was raised for the Goates family and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, McKenna and her family will travel to Walt Disney World this spring where she will get to be a Disney princess and attend a block party of the performance of "High School Musical" at nearby MGM Studios, said her parents, Nate and Darlene Goates.

Bishop said at the Nov. 10 event, students, families and teachers rallied around McKenna, who made an appearance with her family and drove a mile around the track oval in her pink motorized Barbie Jeep.

"It's hard to put into words [the impact of the event for McKenna]," Bishop said. "I still get a lump in my throat now a week later. You see families in need and going through a stressful time, and other families with compassion ... just forget themselves."

When Bishop's organizing committee for the event had a hard time finding a local beneficiary, McKenna's grandmother, Gaylene Rosenthal, who works at Mountain View High School (her husband teaches at Lakeridge Junior High School) suggested her granddaughter, Bishop said.

The fun run, which is part of a series of family-oriented activities in November, began four years ago when the schools came to the aid of an Orem Elementary teacher who was waging her own battle with cancer.

"It felt so good to do it, we kind of wanted to continue on," Bishop said. "I think that's why it's so addictive for me."

Darlene Goates and her family said they hope the worst for their daughter has passed and were grateful that so many were willing to open up their hearts and share this Thanksgiving season.

"We never realized this response would be so great," she said. "It was overwhelming and emotional to see everyone's compassion for our family. ... People are caring and praying for and concerned about how she's doing."