by Kim Fields
BOISE -- You have just a few days left to buy your ticket for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. Someone will win the brand new home on Sunday.
Owen Church, a St. Jude patient, gives us a peak at the home and what this fundraiser means to St Jude. By buying a ticket for a chance to win this St. Jude Dream Home in Eagle, you're giving children with cancer a chance at another birthday, another Christmas and Thanksgiving.
"This would make a really cool kids room," said Owen.
Five-year-old Owen tours the St. Jude Dream Home in Eagle -- a home that will help raise money to fight childhood cancers, like the one he has.
"Help my leukemia cells go away and stay way," said Owen.
Owen knows how important St. Jude is in the fight against cancer. But the hospital can't do it alone. The daily operating costs for St. Jude is $1.6 million, which is primarily covered by public contributions. And no child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay.
"Every penny that they get is going to help children. And Owen took this to heart. Last year, when he turned five, on his 5th birthday, he had the idea of forgoing presents for himself and asking his friends and their families to donate money to St. Jude in his honor," said Kelly McMonigle Church, Owen's mom.
"All of us did it. My friends raised money for St. Jude. It just helps the kids and the people that are trying to help them. It does a lot for them, so I just did it," said Owen.
Owen's party raised about $1,000. The Dream Home giveaways, like the one in Eagle, have helped raised $155 million nationwide for St. Jude. And with your help, St. Jude can raise even more.
“It's just amazing to me all the work that's been donated. All the work that's been done to benefit the hospital," said Kelly.
And to benefit patients like Owen. Owen continues to receive chemotherapy once a week at St. Jude. He likes to think of chemo as a germ killer.
"It goes into my port and they just start pushing it and it goes into body kills the germs that are bugging around," said Owen.
And even when the germ killer made his hair fall out, Owen knew that meant the medicines were working.
"My hair felled out. But I knew it was just helping me heal my cancer and so I knew it was alright," said Owen.
And hopefully in about another year, the germs bugging around Owen's blood will be gone for good.
"We are trusting the Lord that he will stay cancer-free for the rest of his life," said McMonigle Church.
Owen has left a little reminder for the winner of the St. Dream Home -- his handprints in the cement on the side steps of the home. A reminder of all the good that comes from donating to the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway.
Limited tickets are left for a chance to win the dream house in the Lakemoor Subdivision off Eagle Road, across from Banbury Golf Club.
Tickets are $100 each.
The winner of the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway will be drawn Sunday night in a live broadcast on Channel 7.
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