RSVP Calendar: Children’s Cancer Fund Rolled Out the Red Carpet at 26th Annual Luncheon

For the pediatric cancer patients and survivors who participated in the 26th Annual Children’s Cancer Fund Luncheon, this long-anticipated event is so much more than a fundraising luncheon. It is a day of clowns, celebrities, games, magicians, and a fashion show in which they get to wear a new outfit they selected (and get to keep), provided by Dillards, and walk the catwalk with a celebrity or beloved sponsor of the event. It’s a day when they can be a star, and it’s a day far away from the hospital and treatments.

Honorary Co-Chair Troy Aikman and Bryce Duffy

Longtime Honorary Co-Chairs Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach joined Luncheon Co-Chairs Tyler Kuelbs and Stacie Wells, along with an outstanding lineup of celebrities, sponsors and media personalities, to take the runway with 39 young cancer patients and numerous pediatric cancer survivors in a special runway fashion show on April 4, sponsored by Dillard’s and produced by RSC Show Productions. KDFW FOX 4 News Anchors and supporters Steve Eagar and Clarice Tinsley served as Master and Mistress of

Ceremonies at the event.

Carter Fielding and Honorary Co-Chair Roger Staubach

Celebrities who gave of their time to serve as escorts also included Cowboys legend Drew Pearson; current Dallas Cowboys Brandon Carr, DeMarco Murray, Jason Witten; Rowdy; Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders; Sidney Fullmer from the American Girl Movie “Saige Paints the Sky”; Ainsley Bailey from Disney’s “Shake it Up”; Rudy Gatlin; Ray Johnston; Miss Texas Teen Kellie Stewart, Miss Texas Ivana Hall, Jake Pavelka, and Jason Castro. Favorites include members of the Dallas Fire Department; the Pink Heals Firefighters, a national charity that provides a platform to help fight cancer; and Medieval Times.

Candace Bennett and Kellie Stewart, Miss Texas Teen

With almost 1,000 sponsors, celebrities, families and supporters in attendance, the annual luncheon raises awareness and funds for children’s cancer research at Children’s Medical Center and UT Southwestern Medical Center while serving as a positive social-psychological experience for children undergoing cancer treatment.

Amy Vanderoef (WFAA), Paige Boutilier, and Shelly Slater (WFAA)

“With over $7 million in funds raised, since 1982, for pediatric cancer research, Children’s Cancer Fund continues to fund critical research while improving treatments for hundreds of children throughout the greater North Texas community,” said Luncheon Co-Chair Tyler Kuelbs.“ A significant amount of these funds are raised through CCF’s Annual Luncheon, which brings children living with cancer together for an unforgettable, embracing, and heartwarming experience. This year we hope to raise over $250,000.”

Natasha Green and Miss Texas Ivana Hall

The finale of the show each year is a special time for all the children, both those currently battling cancer and the survivors, to join together on stage. This year the children joined Amber Carrington, North Texas native and semi-finalist on Season 4 of NBC’s top rated show “The Voice” as she performed Kelly Clarkson’s hit “Breakaway.” A few months after Amber graduated from high school, she lost her mother to breast cancer. Since then, she has been honoring her mother’s life by singing.