ASHLAND —
Chase Morrison smiled and waved every time a passing car or truck honked a horn Saturday as his friends and family celebrated his life and collected toys for children battling cancer.
Morrison’s parents, Alyssa and Joseph, were out early setting up an inflatable bounce house and tending to other details for the event which grew from their son’s desire to help other childhood cancer patients celebrate their own birthday. The 4-year-old birthday boy said he didn’t want any gifts for himself, although his family planned to shower him with gifts during a party at home Saturday evening.
“We’ll have a party for him at the house tonight with inflatables and sno-cones and a Spongebob cake,” Joseph said.
Chase’s mom said she was confident many gifts would arrive as they day went on.
“A lot of people will probably come this afternoon because it’s Saturday and they want to sleep in and it’s almost time for school to be back in,” Chase’s mother said, glancing at the dark clouds that soon parted and gave way to a beautiful afternoon.
Early contributions to Chase’s Dream included a Radio-Flyer wagon, Doodle Pro boards, toy cars, arts supplies, My Little Pony figures, puzzles and Presto Dots as well as a couple of gift cards. Morrison said there are many teens battling cancer at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where Chase received his treatments, who appreciate gift cards to stores including Walmart and Target. Instead of a toy for their birthday, Morison said the teens use the gift cards for personal items and things they can’t get at the hospital. Morrison said the children’s hospital can use a variety of items, including bounce chairs for babies, and adds she would be happy to speak with anyone interested in further supporting the effort.
Morrison said her son’s selfless request has drawn many responses and has been widely shared on Facebook, earning the young boy accolades including the titles “hero” and “trooper.”
“My job, with what Chase has went through ... is just to raise awareness,” Alyssa Morrison said, remembering the gifts her son received when he first arrived at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the happiness others reflected when they got something special for their birthday.
Morrison said her family will continue to collect toys, gift cards and checks made out to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, at Ashland Rental & Sales on Winchester Avenue until they deliver everything to the hospital during Chase’s next appointment there in late September on early November. For more information or to make a donation, call (606) 922-3513.
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.
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