ROCKINGHAM — The show will Saturday go on for an annual fundraiser benefiting young North Carolina cancer patients — rain or shine.
The Hide-A-Way Tavern will host the Project Taylor ride, which was started by late bar owner Chris Sachs in 2019, on Saturday, March 23.
Project Taylor, founded by Lorrie Stewart, is named in honor of her late daughter, Taylor Stewart.
Taylor was diagnosed in August 2010 — shortly after her 12th birthday — with acute myeloid leukemia, which is more common in adults.
The following year, doctors discovered that the cancer had spread to Taylor’s bones and she passed away Sept. 7, 2012 at the age of 14.
Stewart usually takes bags of toys — purchased with the raised funds from The Little Toy Shop in Southern Pines, Taylor’s favorite store — to the pediatric cancer and bone marrow transplant patients at North Carolina Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill during the spring and summer months.
The deliveries for those times were Taylor’s last wish, according to Stewart, because, “She felt the kiddos staying at that time really didn’t receive any gifts” in comparison to the winter months.
“It means so much to me because Taylor was my only child and just to be able to carry her name on in awareness for childhood cancer by doing something like this, it makes me so happy,” Stewart previously told the RO.
Registration for the event begins at noon, with food from Godfather’s Pizza, Biscuitville and Boards by Pey. There will also be a live auction, silent auction and door prizes. Items up for grabs include several wine baskets, a flamingo basket and a grilling basket.
There is, as of this writing, an 80% chance of precipitation on Saturday, according to the forecast from the National Weather Service.
Despite being stymied by weather, last year’s event raised more than $6,000. The ride in 2022 brought in more than $5,500.
The ride was held in September— both Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Leukemia Awareness Month — the first few years, but was moved to the spring last year.
