on the path
By Lydia Freudenberg
One Family’s Journey Local family continues involvement in cancer-focused fundraising groups for more than a decade
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The Adams-Lewis family at the Nellie’s Champions for Kids Gala. From left: Riley, Jessica, Rourke, Hannah and Duncan.
Local Love About 10 years ago, Eden was the star of the first-ever fashion show by Nellie’s Champions For Kids (NC4K), an Ohio-based group that raises funds for
childhood cancer and helps local families dealing with pediatric cancer. According to the NC4K website, Eden inspired the organization to continue the fashion show annually and grow. Today, the group hosts www.healthynewalbanymagazine.com
Photos courtesy of the Adams-Lewis family
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his story begins in 2007, when Eden Adams, daughter of Rourke Adams; and Hannah Lewis, daughter of Jessica Lewis; became friends. The two girls were undergoing treatment for different types of pediatric cancers and met in the hospital. “(Jessica and I) didn’t have to explain what we were going through,” Rourke says. “We could kind of use each other to sound board, so to speak.” Hannah, who had a soft tissue cancer, is now cancer free and will be a senior at New Albany High School this fall. Eden passed away in late 2008 at 8 years old from neuroblastoma, a cancer that attacks the nerves. Eden’s happy personality, like how she threw pixie dust around the hospital, and bits of wisdom, like when she told Jessica to appreciate gifts fully, are well-remembered by Rourke and Jessica, who have been together for the past 11 years. “She didn’t meet a stranger,” Rourke says of Eden. “She was very happy, very princess-oriented; pink and glitter were her way to go.” “She was special,” Jessica says. “She was just little bits of wisdom all the time.” The two families have become one, which also includes Rourke’s son, Riley, and Jessica’s son, Duncan. Today, the family is involved in multiple cancer-focused fundraising groups to not only raise awareness, but keep Eden’s memory alive.