Event raises money for families, cancer research
MIDDLESEX TWP — Bobby and Carly Bartle had to travel to New York and back more than 20 times this year to treat their 4-year-old son Ford, who was diagnosed with a cancer called neuroblastoma in August 2019.
On Tuesday, family and friends of the Bartles traveled from far and wide to Freedom Farms for the first ever Ford Tough Festival, which was organized as a show of support for the Bartles.
“There isn't much funding for (this type of) cancer research because it's rare,” Bobby Bartle said. “And parents don't get a lot of money for support.”
The festival featured fun and entertainment for kids and families. The evening event highlighted several musical and entertainment acts and a handful of food trucks, along with some kid-centered activities like balloon art and face painting.When Ford, the thirdborn of the five Bartle children, arrived at the 6 p.m. festival, he was showered in hugs and kisses from the adults and led around to the different entertainment booths by other young children.According to Bobby Bartle, Ford went into remission in March 2020, but his cancer relapsed this February. Many trips to New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center later, Bobby Bartle said Ford is in recovery again.“He has been doing well,” Bobby Bartle said. “We've had a lot of help from people.”
Proceeds from the festival will be distributed to Band of Parents, a nonprofit corporation that supports the development of neuroblastoma therapies at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Band of Parents also supports families' costs relative to traveling to New York for neuroblastoma treatment, according to the Ford Tough Festival's website.Bobby Bartle said the organization helped fund early antibody treatments for neuroblastoma.Support for the family shined through in the Freedom Farms barn Tuesday, with many people wearing “Ford Tough” shirts and buying tickets for different baskets being raffled off.Ford's grandfather, Bob Bartle, said he had been on several trips to the hospital for Ford's treatment.“It's the toughest thing to see kids in the hospital,” he said. “As you go through it, you see what the kids go through, and it's heartbreaking.”Bobby Bartle said he wasn't sure what kind of attendance to expect, this being the first time the family has done a fundraiser like this. The barn started filling up after 6 p.m., and many people offered hugs to the family.Bobby Bartle also said the event was headlined by Pittsburgh-native country artist Steve Moakler, who played the event as part of a national tour, which could have attracted visitors.The support from not only close loved ones, but other community members was a positive sight for the Bartles. There is potential to have the event again in the future.“You hope and pray they find a cure,” Bob Bartle said.
