The race against childhood cancer at the 4th Annual Brittiana “Smile For Life†5k Run/Walk May 30, 2009 at Pacific Palisades High School, will
bring the loving legacy that 13–year-old Brittiana Henderson left with the many people who knew her and her story. Host, actor/comedian , adored Brittiana’s courage and her love for others – he often refers to her as his “little sisterâ€. Co-host Keke Palmer – star of “True Jackson, VP†– is excited about participating in this year’s event and ecstatic to be racing against childhood cancer. At the age of 10 Brittiana was diagnosed with Osteogenic Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Courageously, she fought this disease and was like any other cancer patient, subdued to the confinements of the hospital. She painfully underwent chemotherapy and partial knee replacement surgery, in which never stopped her love from shining through the hospital walls. Remaining optimistic about her own struggle, Brittiana would visit other children in the hospital offering hugs, smiles, love and reading stories (her favorite). With the help and support of Brittiana’s parents Jamie and Shirell Henderson, they organized a non–profit organization called BrittiCares International with that same infectious love to help others. Brittiana was able to attend the 1st annual Brittiana “Smile For Life†5k run/walk in 2006, as her battle with cancer came to an end January 31, 2007. Her legacy lives on two years later as celebrities, communities, family, friends and organizations, all gear up for the race to help children stricken with cancer, leukemia, sickle cell anemia and other serious blood diseases.
The following stories feature the same celebrities and/or charities: