This just might be the best gift you give during this holiday season, and Mana Foods is wholeheartedly ready and hoping to donate as much as possible to sweet little Trucker and his family!
The donations gathered through our Bag Credit Program, during the month of December, are all going to the Dukes family to help little Trucker win this battle!
This means that whenever you bring your own grocery bag to Mana Foods, you receive a bag credit of $0.05 that you can donate.
And, we absolutely invite anyone who feels inspired to do so to contribute as much as they'd like/can to supporting this child's fight against cancer (see below donation options).
With a heavy heart, but a very hopeful spirit, we share the following story with you all. We hope that you feel moved to remind the Dukes family just how loved and supported they are by the Maui community through your donations!
" Trucker Dukes, the youngest of four children, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2014. Trucker, at 19 months old, had a fast-growing tumor in his abdomen and the cancer had spread throughout 50% of his body.
Three-year-old Trucker has endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and life-threatening surgeries trying to rid his little body of this horrible disease. Just before Thanksgiving 2015, almost a year exactly after he was originally diagnosed, doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City discovered a new tumor in his brain.
The brain tumor was successfully removed and he is currently on one of the only trials for brain relapse at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Although the Dukes live on Maui, Hawaii they decided to take Trucker to New York to seek treatment to save his life. His dad, Joshua Dukes, a Maui Fire Fighter continues to work in Hawaii while Trucker and his mom fly back and forth from Hawaii to New York. The family, including Trucker's three older siblings, are all faced with extreme adversity as they try to save his life.
"Thank you times a million for caring and supporting us in any way you can through the hardest thing we have ever done," writes Trucker's mom, Shauna Dukes."
We're cheering for you Trucker! From all of us at Mana Foods, and so many more who love you, we're sending you all the positivity and healing strength in the world!
Three-year-old Trucker Dukes, from Maui, Hawaii, was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma at 19-months old. Trucker is part of a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for brain relapse in Neuroblastoma patients. He and his mom travel between Maui and New York for treatment in the hope to save his life.
Joshua Dukes, Trucker’s dad, is a Maui firefighter and continues to work in Hawaii while their three older children attend school on Maui.
While walking in Manhattan, Trucker and his mom met FDNY Captain Jim Grismer after he exited Engine 22 on a call to the Ronald McDonald House.
“I see this little boy excitedly walking towards me with his eyes aglow. I opened my arms and he basically climbed up and hugged me around the neck,” said FDNY Captain Jim Grismer. “It was as if we've been friends/brothers for years.”
Grismer and other firefighters began inviting them to visit firehouses. When Trucker turned three, firefighters from FDNY Engine 22, Ladder 13, Battalion 10 hosted Trucker and his mom for a birthday party at their firehouse.
The New York City Fire Department have come along side Trucker and adopted him into their brotherhood. On May 31, 2016 Trucker will be named an honorary FDNY firefighter.
Please join us in raising money to pay for the many costs to fight cancer. Currently, friends are raising funds to help pay for travel from Maui to NY so his dad and three older siblings can attend the ceremony.
You can donate and learn more about Trucker Dukes on www.teamtrucker.org #TeamTrucker
Thank you to http://www.abellastudios.com for donating their talent and time to film Shauna and Trucker.
Thank you to Pierson Jacquelin for donating editing services.
In addition to Mana's Bag Credit donations, feel free to donate to Trucker and his family at HERE
