On Saturday, September 2, a home on Thornton Place in Atlanta will be more than just an house, it will be a beacon of hope and play for 20-month-old Nyani Woods, who is battling cancer.
The Roc Solid Foundation, in partnership with Amazon, will gift Nyani and her family a custom-built Backyard Discovery Woodland Swing Set as a part of their second annual ‘Play Defeats Cancer Tour.’
The tour is designed to surprise 30 children across the nation with custom playsets throughout September, coinciding with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Other key sponsors include Backyard Discovery, Shady Rays, Hunt Brothers Pizza, and Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group.
Local volunteers are slated to start the build at 9 a.m., with the grand reveal scheduled between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Eric Newman, Founder and CEO of Roc Solid Foundation, said the mission is personal. Newman, himself a pediatric cancer survivor, started the organization to make a positive impact on kids undergoing cancer treatments.
The initiative encourages community involvement. People can make a donation of any size or share an “I Play For” sign on social media to honor someone who has fought or is currently battling cancer.
When children are diagnosed with cancer, one of the first things taken away is the opportunity to play. Many children like Nyani can’t play in public places or with friends due to compromised immune systems. These backyard playsets provide not only a germ-free space but also a much-needed respite from frequent hospital visits and the emotional toll of fighting the disease.
Local contributions, both financial and volunteer time, are encouraged to make this endeavor possible and lend a hand in giving the gift of play back to children like Nyani. For Atlanta residents this isn’t just about a swing set; it’s about restoring a slice of normalcy to a family facing an incredibly challenging time.
For more information or to get involved, the public can visit the Roc Solid Foundation’s website.
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