Valley residents can head to the Canfield Green on Saturday to 'Choose Joy' to benefit Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation and their mission to support pediatric brain cancer research.

Melina Michelle Edenfield was four-years-old when she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumor known as Diffuse Midline Glioma. All too quickly, Melina's life was taken in June of 2020, just one month and two days after her diagnosis.

Despite the circumstances, the joy Melina brought to her family and community never faltered.

After her passing, her family learned that research for childhood cancer is severely underfunded, with just 3% of all money raised for cancer funding spent on childhood cancer. Less than 1% of that total funds research for pediatric brain tumors, equaling out to around $500 per child diagnosed.

Her family, neighbors, and community knew that this is not nearly enough, and that kids like Melina deserve so much more. They knew they had to take action.

The Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation was created to raise funds and awareness for pediatric brain tumors.

In addition to support for research and funding, the foundation has a special mission: to 'Choose Joy' every day and in every circumstance, just like Melina hoped they would.

Last summer, Melina's ten neighborhood best friends put together their first 'The Choose Joy Event' in their front yard as a call to action to find a cure and raise awareness for the cancer that took their friend's life.

This year, 'Melina's Joy Team' knew they had to go bigger- and they've done just that.

The Canfield Green will be filled will joy from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 7th for a day of family activities including raffles, face painting, bounce houses, photo booths, giveaways, and more.

The event will also have visits from therapy dogs, the Canfield Police and Fire Departments, and food vendors.

Admission is free, and wearing cheetah print is encouraged.