Climb Like Avery

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Climb Like Avery

From Darin Padur

We are raising funds from Avery supporters from our Lakeland Hills community to in order to name the play structure at Lakeland Hills Park after Avery Huffman.

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Recent Updates

Update #7

almost 5 years ago

4/20 at Lakeland Hills Park 11AM, unveiling of the new Avery's Playground sign. Looking forward to seeing you there.

More Info

Avery Huffman's Story:

On June 30th, 2015 Avery Huffman was diagnosed with an inoperable, cancerous brain tumor, known as DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), a brain tumor found in the pons, part of the brainstem on the lower back of the brain, near the top of the spinal cord.

A DIPG diagnosis usually comes with the following phrases: “There is nothing that can be done,” “All care is palliative,” “It could be anywhere from a few months to maybe a year” and worst of all “There is no cure.”

Avery fought a tremendous fight, but ultimately fell victim of this awful disease in February of 2016, at the young age of seven.

What we are doing:

Supporters of Avery are rallying together to name the play structure at Lakeland Hills Park in Auburn, WA after Avery Huffman. In close partnership with the City of Auburn and the Huffman family, a plan has been established to fund the newly erected play structure. These funds will be used to also include signage telling Avery's story for all to recognize the impact this young girl made on so many.

Everyone who continues to use this wonderful new area at Lakeland Hills Park will be reminded of this special young girl. This play area was a favorite of Avery's and this location was selected by the family because it was so special to her.  As members of the Lakeland Hills community, we want to provide a special way to memorialize her and allow other kids to enjoy this beautiful park and play structure.

What does "Climb Like Avery" mean?

One week before Avery’s diagnosis, just days after she had finished kindergarten at Lakeland Hills Elementary School, she was at Lakeland Hills Park with her sisters and brother, the park where she played growing up.  She asked her mother to video her climbing across the monkey bars.  At the end, she jumped off the bars, and yelled ‘Ta-Da!’ in celebration.  Just a few days after that, noticing something was wrong in her eye and in her strength, Avery again climbed the monkey bars, but with some assistance from her father.  Two days later, Avery’s diagnosis of DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, the most lethal form of pediatric cancer) was given to the family.  The video of her climbing across the monkey bars is the last video the Huffman family has of Avery, fully healthy, fully capable of doing what she was able to, without cancer ravaging her body.  That video is priceless to the family.  Their hope is that families for generations to come, will be able to watch their own children “Climb Like Avery” on the play structure, and enjoy Lakeland Hills Park like the Huffman did and has for years.

How you can help:

The funds raised (less Fundly.com administration and transaction costs) will go directly to the funding of this play structure so that the City of Auburn will officially name it after Avery. The specific title will be worked out with the family in partnership with the city. 

In the Fall of 2018, we will have a special ceremonial unveiling of the new play structure with the new name and signage. Supporters of this campaign will receive special acknowledgment at this event.  

Additional funds raised above those costs will go toward a plaque in Avery's honor installed on a bench at Avery's school she attended, Lakeland Hills Elementary. 

Any funds raised above the target for this project ($5,000) will be directly donated to the Avery Huffman Defeat DIPG Foundation

Please contact Darin Padur @ [email protected] for any questions. We will continue to provide updates through Fundly.com and other social media platforms on our progress and updates with this project. 

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Darin Padur posted a new update:
almost 5 years ago

Update #7

4/20 at Lakeland Hills Park 11AM, unveiling of the new Avery's Playground sign. Looking forward to seeing you there.

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Darin Padur posted a new update:
about 5 years ago

Update #6

Here is the VERY latest... it has been a long time since I have updated our backers but wanted to provide an update of where things are at and the timing of the final unveiling of the plaque in Lakeland Hills Park.

After working with designers at the City of Auburn, we arrived at the attached design and text which has been approved by the Huffman Family. This will highlight the naming of the play structure at the park in memory of Avery Huffman. I wanted this group to be able to see it first, even before the public unveiling because it is YOU that made it happen. Thank you for your incredible support.

On April 20th, 2019, at Lakeland Hills Park at approximately 11:00 am we will unveil the final result with the help of Auburn Parks & Recreation. You are all invited to attend.

April 20th
Lakeland Hills Park
1401 Evergreen Way SE
Auburn, WA 98092

Earlier that morning, there will be a gathering of people that will finish beautifying the area with pavers, flowers, and plants. You are welcome to participate in this as well, but mostly I wanted to invite those who contributed and saw this through an opportunity to see it unveiled along with the Huffman Family for the first time. Thanks for your incredible support of this project and hope to see many of you on April 20th.

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Darin Padur posted a new update:
over 5 years ago

Update #5

Happy Holidays to the "Climb Like Avery" backers. I want to update you on the current status of the project you helped fund and support.

We just recently turned in all of the funds raised to the Auburn Parks and they completed the design of what is going to be a wonderful plaque that will notate the play structure at Lakeland Hills Park, as "Avery's Playground."

In concert with the Huffman family, we worked through the text and final sign off on the design in the last week. I can tell you, those who knew Avery, pink and green were two of her favorite colors, and these will be represented strongly in the final product. I will share a photo of the completed design soon.

Thank you so much for giving to this product and making this happen. It honestly would not have happened without your amazing support and that means so much to the Huffman family. Auburn Parks expects about a 4-6 week time frame for the completed project and I would expect some additional time needed to install. I will continue to keep you updated.

Thanks again for all you have done and have a blessed holiday season.

Darin

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Darin Padur posted a new update:
over 5 years ago

Update #4

To our awesome supporters: I met with Auburn Parks today and we have a plan in place for the signage at the Lakeland Hills Park play structure. The funds we raised were enough to cover the costs to see this through. I will be sending a check to Auburn Parks for $2,551 (the total amount raised less Fundly.com fees) and we will get started on the design finalization. The Huffman family will help the text and photos and the City of Auburn will help us with the design. I will share proofs as soon as we have something. You have been amazing supporters. Thank you for all you have done to see this project get started and honor Avery Huffman in the same play structure she enjoyed so much... #AveryStrong

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Darin Padur posted a new update:
over 5 years ago

Update #3

Although the campaign has wrapped up and slightly short of our financial target, this project will still move forward. I want to thank all of the many, many people who helped support this effort. Your support is making this a reality. I am working with Auburn Parks to discuss next steps, design, and logistics to finalize the project that wouldn't have happened without the incredible support from so many, local and far away. Thank you so much. I don't have anything more specific to announce yet, but more information will be coming. As backers of this project, you will be the first to hear about and see the signage for this special play area, soon to be named after Avery Huffman. THANK YOU ALL!! #AveryStrong

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Darin Padur posted a new update:
over 5 years ago

Update #2

Thank you so much for all of the support, especially the push of funding coming in in the recent days. Simply amazing and so much appreciated. I wanted to tell the group that I am meeting with Auburn Parks shortly to give them an update on where we are at. At this point, I will get final pricing on what they need to see this to completion. They have been a tremendous partner and I look forward to updating the group on the next steps as we close in on our funding goal. Thank you so much for your incredible support of the Climb Like Avery project!

Darin Padur

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Darin Padur posted a new update:
almost 6 years ago

Update #1

I have made the donation window LIVE now... you should be able to contribute. I added custom levels to hopefully make it easier as well...

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