The Team Joshua “STOP” Cancer walk event is returning for a second year, this time to celebrate the vibrance of a Vicksburg child who has beaten cancer.

If you go

The Team Joshua “STOP” Cancer walk-a-thon will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Art Park at Catfish Row, downtown Vicksburg. Refreshments will be sold. Walkers can register the day of the event or by calling Ginger Berney at 601-629-7911.

Joshua Berney turned 3 years old in May, and his mother says, “He’s full of energy. He’s making up for lost time.”

Joshua was 6 months old when he was diagnosed with leukemia. His doctors feared he wasn’t going to make it. But after strenuous chemotherapy and numerous surgeries and tests at the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson, a year later, he kicked the cancer and has been in remission since.

Joshua is approaching the three-year remission threshold, which his doctors have said means he’ll be free of the disease. He visits an oncologist every two to three months and specialists every six months.

Saturday’s event at the Art Park at Catfish Row is twofold — to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Blair E. Batson, and for Ernest and Ginger Berney to say thanks to those who have helped their son.

“We decided to try the walk-a-thon this year after we had participated in the Light The Night in Jackson (a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society event),” said Ginger Berney.

Three-year-old Shelby Pope of Carthage, a Blair E. Batson cancer patient who’s in remission, has been invited to the event as a special guest.

“She’s real special to us,” said Ginger Berney. “Her doctor asked us to talk to her parents after she was diagnosed with the same cancer as Joshua’s.”

Ben and Jamie Pope hope to bring Shelby to the walk-a-thon, but must receive clearance from her doctor.  

“She’s into everything — and she likes to play dress-up, paint and read books,” said Jamie Pope. “She ate her first chicken nugget in a Happy Meal from McDonald’s last week. Everything is something to celebrate because it’s the first time.”

The walk-a-thon will feature a memorial for two young Blair E. Batson patients who died of cancer, plus other activities. Walkers can register in advance or the day of the event.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com