An Empty Chair

After enduring a 5 AM Uber ride, large crowds, lots of steps, numb extremities, and the absence of available restrooms, we finally saw the first float come into view. The Fox family had traveled to New York to check off a bucket list item – see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in person. Despite our numb toes and cold noses, we had a great time in Manhattan that morning. Dalton wore a turkey hat on his head and a walking boot on his left leg. While his leg started hurting five months before, we wouldn’t find the real cause for another three months. After the parade, we toured Manhattan and visited the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, and the Empire State Building among other sites. Dalton had a great Thanksgiving. He loved everything about Thanksgiving. The parade, the turkey, family, and especially the choice of multiple pies for dessert.

Eight years later, there will be an empty chair at Thanksgiving dinner for the fifth year in a row. The food will taste just as good, but Dalton will be missed. The annual tradition of stating what we are thankful for has certainly become more challenging since Dalton left us. While we miss him every day, days like Thanksgiving are tough. Jen and I are very thankful for D-Feet Cancer and for all our wonderful supporters. All of your support makes the tough days and moments a little bit easier. Without you, D-Feet would not have funded half a million dollars in pediatric cancer research with more to come. We are thankful that doctors in Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, Vancouver, and Los Angeles are working with help from D-Feet Cancer to help kids like Dalton.

The annual D-Feet Cancer Golf Tournament went great. The event sold out for the first time ever and raised a record of over $20,000 that will directly fund pediatric cancer research. Thanks to everyone who came out and had a great time. The 2026 event will be held on Friday October 9^th.

We’ll be holding our second annual gala on February 21, 2026. Tickets are on sale now at the link below. There are also sponsorship opportunities available if your business would like to support pediatric cancer research while having a great evening with us.

https://auctria.events/EverydayMemoriesGala2026

Thanks again for all of your support!