There's a sweet reason to eat dessert for the rest of the month.Β
You can help a University of Arizona research center that's trying to fight cancer and other diseases and make treatments for kids better.Β
This is the third year the UA'sΒ Steele Children's Research CenterΒ has invited people to eat something sweet, make a donation and honor a little girl who lost her battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2015 due to treatment complications.Β
April 21Β β what would have been Dana Morgan's 13th birthdayΒ β was Eat Dessert First Day. Dana's parents Scott and Michelle Morgan started the campaign to raise money for the pediatric research center and encourage people to savor the sweet things in life.Β
"One of her favorite things was to go out to a restaurant after she had treatment in the hospital," said Scott Morgan in a video message posted on the campaign site. "And she always requested, 'Hey, can I have dessert before dinner?' And of course when your child's battling leukemia, you'll do anything you can within your power to grant a wish."Β
Since launching the campaign in 2015, Eat Dessert First Day has raised about $15,000 for the Steele Children's Research Center, said Katie James, the assistant director of community development for the University of Arizona Health Sciences.Β
The crowdfunding site shows about $4,500 raised so far out of the $15,000 goal for 2017. Some restaurants that hosted percentage nights on April 21 still haven't reported what they raised, James said.Β
The fundraiser lasts through the month, so there is still time to help meet that goal. Just eat dessert before dinner (or lunch!), post a photo to the Eat Dessert First Day Facebook page and make a donation.
The donations the Steele Pediatric Research Center receives from the community provides seed money to do the research needed before researchers can apply for national grants that ultimately fund their work.Β
The center researches cancer, autism, autoimmune diseases and type 1 diabetes and other diseases, James said. The physician-scientists also work with patients such as Dana through Banner Children's-Diamond Children's Medical Center.Β
"The Morgans, the really important message they want to get across is that we need to find better treatments for kiddos having cancer treatments," James said. "Chemotherapy works, but it's hard on the body and the organs and there are a lot of side effects that come from it. Their mission is to find better treatments and find a cure so kids have a better experience than what their family faced."Β
For more information or to donate, visit eatdessertfirstday.org.Β
