Navigating all of the unprecedented, unfamiliar territory of Covid-19 was certainly a challenge. After much discussion, the Board for Cooper Trooper Foundation decided to press forward with having the Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser. We knew the annual Pumpkinfest in downtown Franklin had cancelled, along with so many other things in the weeks leading up to planning for the “patch.” Thankfully, our amazing volunteers were able to rally with us and tackle all the unknowns to make the Pumpkin Patch fundraiser a reality. Everything from the way we unloaded pumpkins, to checkout, sanitizing wagons, social distancing, and wearing masks, as well as not having a kid’s area, felt surreal and difficult. But, just as a family who has received a cancer diagnosis for their child (the very families we are ultimately doing ALL of this for), we felt we had to press forward through all of the unknowns, while still maintaining the safest environment possible for our supporters. After all, so many in this community have come to see the Cooper Trooper Pumpkin Patch as a “family tradition” and look forward to buying their “pumpkins for a purpose” every year. Well, we had an incredible year…the BEST one yet, raising more money than EVER before to support families, specifically siblings of children diagnosed with cancer and fund childhood cancer research! Thank you to all of the volunteers, customers, and sponsors who made this possible! We are SO very grateful for each of YOU!
