Lex the T-Rex used to bring awareness
Leukemia awareness is being spread in the Midlands through an unexpected advocate. On Saturday, March 29, an 11-foot-tall dinosaur was painted with orange ribbons to honor those battling leukemia. This dinosaur in question is Lex the T-Rex, a local landmark off Highway One.
Christopher Price, the creator of Lex and a local handyman, partnered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) to hold an awareness event for the blood cancer at his house. The Midlands community was invited to partake in this event, which featured bouncy houses for kids, food, and ribbon painting on Lex the dinosaur.
Price, who is a volunteer at LLS, decided to use his dinosaur to bring awareness after meeting Jackson Elder, a five-year-old leukemia fighter. Elder is an honored hero at the LLS and coincidentally loves dinosaurs. His catchphrase is “make leukemia extinct.”
Being a father of two children himself, Price wants to do what he can for children battling this disease.
“Being a parent, you always empathize with other families that go through this thing,” said Price.
Prior to the event, Price met with Elder at Home Depot to pick out colors to repaint Lex. Elder chose green, blue, and his favorite shade of orange to signify leukemia. When the day of the event came, Elder was the first to paint orange ribbons on a blue and green dinosaur.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
This event is just one of many that is being used to raise awareness and donations for the LLS’s Visionary of the Year competition. This competition has local leaders creating campaigns to raise money for the LLS. Whoever raises the most money will be named the Visionary of the Year.
This particular event was held by visionary Brandi Keefer. The competition will end in April and the winners will be revealed then. All proceeds raised will go directly to cancer research and patient support.
