Too Cute for Cancer was created to honor Claire Bennett Freeman, who passed away in July 2018 just after her 4th birthday.
She was treated at both UNC Children’s as well as CHOP in Philadelphia, but spent countless days at the UNC Pediatric Cancer Clinic and UNC Children’s 5th floor.
One of Claire's favorite things to do with her family was to go to Build-A-Bear and bring home numerous new furry brothers and sisters. She loved everything from picking out the stuffed animal to stuffing them/giving them a bath/picking out clothing/giving them a heart/etc….you know the drill if you have ever been there!
On her birthday in June 2019, we decided to bring that experience to the kids at UNC Children’s with the first annual “Build-A-Bear with Claire". We purchased an assortment of animals/clothing/accessories and let the children there go home with a memory of their own. We have started our own website (toocuteforcancer.org) to help raise funding to provide this experience each year on Claire’s birthday (please know that 100% of the money we raise goes to the various children's hospitals).
In addition to the Build-A-Bear party, we are also continuing to raise money to fund snacks and meals for the parents and children that are in the clinic weekly receiving chemo treatments and infusions. We have a section on the website to donate to that cause as well. In addition to UNC, we've been able to host Build-A-Bear events at Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Our hope is to truly honor Claire’s life and find tangible ways to give, as well as support various children's hospitals in the area.
Claire was also part of the Rogue Alpha Athletics family and all of our families truly thank you!
