MIAMI — More than 200 children and families attended a National Childhood Cancer Awareness event hosted by Navarro Discount Pharmacy.
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At the Navarro event, Miami-Dade County Police held a motorcade in the memory of young cancer victim Bella Rodriguez-Torres. |
The Hispanic-owned pharmacy chain said the event, hosted in partnership with the Live Like Bella Foundation at the retailer’s 13800 Kendall Drive store in Miami, was held to educate the community about the needs of children with cancer.
The parents of Miami’s Bella Rodriguez-Torres, who fought cancer and her paralysis six times until her death on May 28, 2013, at the age of 10, attended the event and spoke on behalf of the Live Like Bella Foundation.
Navarro said that Bella was embraced by the entire south Florida community including, Miami Heat and Marlins players.
Activities at the event included kid-focused food and snacks, a motorcade and a helicopter flyover by Miami-Dade County Police, face painting and "Live Like Bella" merchandise for sale. At 6 p.m., the Navarro store was lit in gold and yellow wish lanterns in remembrance of Bella.
The drug chain and the foundation noted that thousands of children are diagnosed with pediatric cancer each year. The disease is the leading cause of death for American children under age 15.
