When Ede Bittle was an 11-year old child, he broke his leg playing football. A parent's nightmare began for his mom, Susan Summerville, when the doctors told her bone tumors were found.
Fortunately, Ede's tumors were non-cancerous. However, during the process, Ede came into contact with children of all ages undergoing cancer treatment.
“Ede wanted to do something for the children,” said Susan of Green.
It started with the bear, said Susan. Fifteen years later, Project Ed Bear is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization with a mission of meeting the needs of pediatric oncology patients.
Project Ed Bear provides a bear to each patient diagnosed with cancer at Akron Children's Medical Center. With something of their own to cuddle and snuggle, patients also benefit from the organization by providing holiday parties, a party celebrating the end of chemotherapy, Camp C.H.O.P.S. scholarships and college scholarships. Recently Project Ed Bear purchased six laptops and 20 PlayStation 3 units with extra controllers for the hospital ward.
All of this good work is done through one annual event, Project Ed Bear Auction. Set for Nov. 30. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the live auction begins at 6:30 p.m. Hundreds of silent auction items are available for bid too.
The auction is held at the former Radisson in downtown Akron in the City Centre.
“We have space for 500 each year and each year the auction has grown,” said Susan. Last year the event, in spite of sudden snow and ice conditions, attracted more than 470 people. “Some people just couldn't make it into town from Canton.”
Yet, with sponsorships and bidding, the event raises enough to spend allow the organization to spend approximately $50,000 for the multitude of needs such as the Ed Bear Cave. In 2004, Project Ed Bear remodeled the waiting room of the oncology-hematology clinic, complete with a play area for children.
“Each year we set a little aside in hopes of creating an endowment so this will continue,” said Susan. “But the need is so great.”
Tickets to the 15th Annual Project Ed Bear Auction are $10 each. Attendees can purchase an Ed Bear for $20.
“We have some wonderful, unique items this year,” said Susan.
A huge Cleveland Cavaliers fan, Susan is excited about offering a Cavs jersey autographed by LeBron James. James sent an autographed basektball to the auction too, she said.
Other items to hit the auction block include a trip to Las Vegas or Orlando for one week with a Marriott vacation plan. AirTran donated the airfare for the trip.
“It’s the choice of the bidder if they want to go to Las Vegas or Orlando,” said Susan. “It was very generous of AirTran to include the airfare.”
The live auction will be conducted by the entertaining Bob Hale of Benefit Auction.
More than 180 silent auction items will be displayed throughout the room.
“There’s so many unique theme-baskets,” said Susan.
There are spa baskets, a golf basket valued at $700, a round of golf at Firestone Country Club, a Culinary Tour of Akron basket filled with gift certificates from area restaurants and a basket filled with children's books.
“There’s one basket, a family game night basket, which must have 20 games in it,” said Susan. “It’s huge. And there's an entertainment basket filled with movies and music.”
But the items which have a special place in Susan's heart are the items crafted and donated by cancer survivors.
“People who attend the auction get it,” said Susan. “They know these are special items.”
Among bowls and plates created by young patients is a quilt made by two cancer survivors with a handmade quilt rack.
“Those are very special items,” said Susan.
Another special item is a football autographed by the Cleveland Browns in the 1970s. “Kyle Underwood, a cancer survivor, was given the autographed football when he was undergoing treatment. He calls it his baby and he has decided to donate it.”
To become a sponsor or for more information about tickets call 330-714-8839.
