Little girl in Needham fighting cancer gets big ‘bunny’ bash to mark one year
NEEDHAM, MA – April 12: Five year old Mia Lee who has been fighting Leukemia hugs a bunny during her bunny themed tea party at her home. She is the Stop & Shop ambassador of its 21st annual Help Cure Childhood Cancer Campaign on April 12, 2022 in Needham, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
A brave little girl in Needham got a big bunny-themed blowout bash to mark one year in her fight against cancer, as part of Stop & Shop’s Cure Childhood Cancer campaign.
“It’s pretty amazing. She’s had a pretty tough year. Now life is starting to go back a little bit to normal,” said Nar Lee, mom of 5-year-old Mia Lee.
NEEDHAM, MA - April 12: Five year old Mia Lee who has been fighting Leukemia holds a a bunny with her cousin eight year old Emma Duong, during her bunny themed tea party at her home. She is the Stop & Shop ambassador of its 21st annual Help Cure Childhood Cancer Campaign on April 12, 2022 in Needham, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
NEEDHAM, MA - April 12: Five year old Mia Lee who has been fighting Leukemia hugs a bunny during her bunny themed tea party at her home. She is the Stop & Shop ambassador of its 21st annual Help Cure Childhood Cancer Campaign on April 12, 2022 in Needham, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
NEEDHAM, MA - April 12: Magician Stevie Kidding performs for five year old Mia Lee and her friends. Mia has been fighting Leukemia and is the Stop & Shop ambassador of its 21st annual Help Cure Childhood Cancer Campaign on April 12, 2022 in Needham, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
NEEDHAM, MA - April 12: Five year old Mia Lee who has been fighting Leukemia plays with her friends during her bunny themed tea party at her home. She is the Stop & Shop ambassador of its 21st annual Help Cure Childhood Cancer Campaign on April 12, 2022 in Needham, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
NEEDHAM, MA - April 12: Five year old Mia Lee who has been fighting Leukemia plays with her friends during her bunny themed tea party at her home. She is the Stop & Shop ambassador of its 21st annual Help Cure Childhood Cancer Campaign on April 12, 2022 in Needham, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
NEEDHAM, MA - April 12: Five year old Mia Lee who has been fighting Leukemia has a cup of “tea” with her friends during her bunny themed tea party at her home. She is the Stop & Shop ambassador of its 21st annual Help Cure Childhood Cancer Campaign on April 12, 2022 in Needham, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Mia is an ambassador for the grocery chain’s campaign, which has raised more then $73 million over 30 years. The campaign contributes directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund in Massachusetts.
Mia was first diagnosed with Leukemia April 12, 2021, and Tuesday marked the anniversary of that tough day. But in the months since, she’s exhibited tremendous bravery. On her good days, she’s out and about and happy just to play, her mom said.
“Just to see her strength and the way that she’s fighting this gives me strength,” she told the Herald.
Stop & Shop decked out the Lee family’s backyard with bunny figurines, bunny-shaped sandwiches and desserts, and child settings for a purple and pink-themed tea party. Mia was joined by several friends to enjoy a beautiful Spring day.
The bunny theme was seasonal, but rabbits hold a special place in Mia’s heart.
“Everything ‘bunny’ just makes her happy. It happened to fall right around Easter, which worked out great, but bunny in my house is a year-round thing,” Nar Lee told the Herald.
Mia got a special surprise towards the end of the party: a magician who performed at the celebration invited her to pull a live bunny rabbit out of his hat, and welcomed the guest of honor and her friends to their very own bunny petting zoo.
Customers who buy from Stop & Shop can contribute to the Cure Childhood Cancer campaign through the end of April when they go through check-out, with 100% of proceeds going towards the fight against pediatric cancer.
