The Williamson County community will celebrate the second annual “Light the Way” event to support Team Elliott on Sunday, Oct. 2nd at the Eastern Flank Event Facility in Franklin from 4:30 to 8 p.m.
Team Elliott is the grassroots effort to support Elliott Grace Castro who was born in May of 2015 with a very rare, terminal disease called Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata (RCDP). The first chapter of her story was told in various media outlets including the USA Today, Williamson Herald, The Tennessean and Franklin Home Page where she thwarted heart surgery, a feeding tube and had cataract surgery at six and seven weeks as the 22nd living child with RCDP in the United States.
Since then, Elliott switched from glasses to contacts, celebrated her first birthday and is eating (some) foods by spoon. “Her daily routine, without therapies, is the same as any newborn,” explains her mother, Samantha Castro. “Despite her obstacles, she is a thriving and amazing little girl with big, hazel eyes and a head full of curls. Her smile is contagious and to meet Elliott is to love her.”
At almost 16 months old, Elliott has reached a milestone weight of 9 pounds, 3 ounces – a huge victory for someone with this rare form of dwarfism. “Ellie G,” as she is affectionately referred, is under the care of nine physicians/specialists and four therapists. She receives therapy six times a week from High Hopes and Waves, Inc. of Williamson County.
“Last year’s inaugural event was birthed after so many friends asked how they could help financially. The medical bills that come with a special needs child are pretty daunting,” event organizer and Elliott’s grandmother Brandy Blanton said. “The event, while centered on our precious baby girl, is also a wonderful opportunity to stand together as a community for something bigger than all of us, which was evidenced by last year’s 100 volunteers and 400+ in attendance. The good news is that Elliott is still with us and thriving … and so is the event.”
This year’s family-friendly event will include live entertainment by local performers, including People on the Porch and The Exotics, as well as a special surprise guest rounding out the evening.
Families will enjoy the kids’ area, dubbed “Elliott’s Dreamworld,” which boasts face painting, Sam the Balloon Man, games, princesses and Touch-A-Truck with the Franklin Fire Department, Franklin Police Department and an EMT truck from Williamson Medical Center. New this year is the opportunity to purchase a Team Elliott t-shirt and have your child create his/her own masterpiece with t-shirt markers!
Deconstructed Food Trucks will include Catering & Events by Suzette, Pueblo Real/Tito’s Mexican Restaurant and Ellie’s Old Fashioned Doughnuts. Wine, beer, non-alcoholic beverages and apparel are also available for purchase. The event will happen rain or shine. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets; however, pets and coolers are not permitted.
Light the Way is open to the public with a suggested donation of $20 per person or $50 per family at the gate. Cash and checks are accepted, but they are not tax-deductible. For more information, email Brandy Blanton at [email protected] or call 615-300-5251.
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