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Trevor Dances Through the Dreaded “C” Word…

…To put a smile on other children’s faces and give them hope and happiness while they are in the hospital fighting various forms of cancer.

During December 2007, I was asked by my friends Robert and Susan Hart to cover an event at INOVA Fairfax Pediatric Oncology Unit that involved their grandson, Trevor Blake. When I arrived at the event, on Christmas Eve, I found, Trevor surrounded by friends and family with lots of containers of new toys for Trevor’s fellow patients. Santa provided help in passing out toys to the patients that were able to come out of their rooms. The children who were bed-ridden were brought toys by Trevor and Santa. Each patient, as well as their siblings who are very much impacted by their brother or sisters cancer, were allowed to choose toys that they liked from the nearly 20 large sized containers that were surrounding Trevor.

This effort was created by Trevor himself right after being diagnosed with Stage 4 High Risk Neuroblastoma Cancer at the age of five. During Trevor's seven months of treatments, the family spent nearly 150 days in the hospital. Trevor informed us, on one of those days, that when he was fortunate enough to get out of the hospital, he would like to come back to visit other kids that are battling cancer while they are in the hospital and he would like to bring toys for them to choose from to “brighten their day”. From Trevor’s selfless idea came the idea for the treasure boxes of toys and “Trevor’s Treasures”. Trevor and his family have been working very hard to make this happen for him. They have started a non-profit organization called "Trevor's Treasures." This organization raises money to allow Trevor to make his monthly visits to the pediatric oncology unit bearing toys in a treasure chest. Additional funds raised will be used for other events and supplies to benefit the families as they find themselves living in the hospital or clinic during their battle with childhood cancer.

While observing Trevor handing out gifts of new toys to his fellow patients and leading them by the hand to Santa, I noticed Trevor breaking into impromptu little dance steps with bursts of incredible energy with no music to guide him. He would mimic John Trivolta in the movie Saturday Night Fever as well as some extremely talented Michael Jackson-like steps. This scene was performed every Christmas Eve for the next four years. Each fund raising event became more intense and elevated to a new success. Every year since 2007, I had the privilege of watching Trevor accentuate the positive with his quick little dance steps.

In October 2011, a fundraiser was held at Harley Davison’s Show Room in Dumfries, Virginia, and, guess what? There was Trevor doing his little dance steps to raise money for Trevor’s Treasures. Here, I must add, what a great job Trevor’s family does on behalf of Trevor, especially Shannon Nuzum, Trevor’s mother. She has been with him every step of the way through countless treatments, trips to Fairfax Pediatric Oncology Unit and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia searching for the ultimate cure for her son. All of this while holding a full-time job and keeping Trevor financially covered for all of his medical needs.

November 2011 brought the biggest fundraiser so far, drawing over 300 people and raising over $28,000 for Trevor’s Treasures. This was accomplished by ”Always Give Back,” a professional fund raising group headed by Jason and Holly Andrzejewski, and was held at the Harbor View Event Center in Woodbridge, Virginia. And there was Trevor Dancing the night away, entertaining the guests and looking like he just stepped out of the movie set of Night Fever dressed in a white suit. white shoes, and cane. Three Redskins, (Gary Clark, Raven Caldwell and Clarence Vaughn) came to pay tribute to Trevor with very touching speeches.

On the first weekend in December, The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County took up the cause of Trevor’s Treasures and asked their members and audience to help fill Trevor’s Treasure Chest. They were able to collect two large bins of toys and $300 at their Holiday Concerts “A Classic Christmas.” However, Trevor could not make an appearance because of his recent treatment at Children’s of Philadelphia. During the Christmas concert, the Reverend Shelby Bolt remarked, “Trevor is truly on a mission given to him and his family to help them through these troubled times.” Trevor was also unable to join Santa on Christmas Eve to distribute the toys at INOVA Fairfax Hospital. But you can be sure his family was there to carry on for him.

Trevor’s Treasures carried out another fundraiser at Top Golf Driving Range in Alexandria on March 3rd, 2012. It was attended by 60 plus golfers of all ages. Tickets included Top Golf membership, 3 hours unlimited play, one free game to be used within 30 days, buckets of golf balls to hit out of a heated bay (which made the event Rain or Shine), 2 drink tickets, a terrific lunch, and 5 raffle tickets. Again, I watched Trevor swing that driver punctuated by short intermittent dance steps. Here is a happy boy doing what he can to bring smiles and happiness to everyone around him.

Trevor has been invited to perform with the New Dominion Choraliers at their Spring Concert “NDC Showstoppers!!!” at the Hylton Performing Arts Center at the Prince William Campus of George Mason University in Manassas. The show is on Saturday, April 28th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 29th at 3:30 p.m. If Trevor is physically up to dancing, you shouldn’t miss this. Trevor will make it worth your while. By the way, bring a new, boxed toy or a monetary donation for Trevor’s Treasures. He will appreciate it and so will his fellow patients. Sadly, some of the smiles may be that child’s last smile.

Tickets for the New Dominion Choraliers “NDC Showstoppers!!!” are available at the door or online at www.hyltoncenter.org. Adults are $20 and $15 for students, seniors, active military and veterans. Children age 4 and under are admitted free. For more information, call 703-498-8906 or 703-590-2147 and visit www.newdominionchoraliers.org.

Look out for Trevor’s Treasures Golf Tournament to be held at the Gauntlet Golf Club in Stafford County on June 4, 2012. Price per golfer is $80. Check in at 8:00 and tee off time is 9:30. There are plenty of prizes which include tournament place prices, closest to the pin, longest drive, hole in one, 50/50 raffle, raffle prizes, challenge hole prizes, etc. Contact Gary Blake at 703 407-6833 or Randy Dingus at 703 472-9430 or Ben Ramirez at 703 232-7893. Trevor recently called a board meeting and has high hopes of taking a family RV trip this summer to take his “Trevor’s Treasures” toys to kids in other hospitals, including University of Virginia Hospital, Duke University Hospital, Kings Daughters, and MCV. He is calling this Trevor’s Treasures journey of Hope: Brightening Days Along the Way. For more details on any of these events, including your wanting to be a sponsor of Trevor’s Treasures Journey of Hope contact Trevor’s Mother, Shannon at 703-447-4006, or visit, or visit www.trevorstreasures.org.