A giant Tuna made this cancer-fighting 7-year-old’s day with one surprise that will warm your heart

Americans know Charlie the Tuna as the lovable mascot of StarKist.

But now the famous fish is winning hearts for an entirely different reason.

And Charlie the Tuna made this cancer-fighting 7-year-old’s day with one surprise that will warm your heart.

Tuna giant StarKist’s mascot got out to ‘Play It Forward’ with the Roc Solid Foundation

While so many corporations have gone woke, some companies are still focused on doing real good in their communities.

StarKist, America’s favorite tuna brand, has been quietly making a difference through its StarKist Cares initiative for more than 15 years.

The company recently partnered with the Roc Solid Foundation to bring joy to 7-year-old Fallon D’Aguiar of Silver Spring, Maryland, who is bravely fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Earlier this month, StarKist employees rolled up their sleeves and got to work building a custom backyard playset for the young warrior as part of Roc Solid’s “Play It Forward” program.

“We believe in the power of play, because when kids are playing, cancer is the last thing on their minds,” said Eric Newman, founder and CEO of Roc Solid Foundation. 

Newman, a survivor of childhood cancer himself, launched the organization to honor the memory of two cousins lost to pediatric cancer.

“We are so appreciative of the support of StarKist; we simply couldn’t do what we do without organizations like theirs rallying around these families with support,” Newman added.

Why a playset matters more than you might think

For healthy children, a playground represents fun and freedom. But for a child battling cancer, it means so much more.

When a child’s immune system is compromised from cancer treatments, public playgrounds become dangerous places full of germs that could cause serious illness.

That’s why these custom-built backyard playsets are so important – they give children with cancer a safe place to just be kids again.

StarKist volunteers spent the entire morning constructing Fallon’s playset from the ground up. The company’s beloved mascot, Charlie the Tuna, even made a special appearance to help unveil the finished playset to Fallon and her family.

The moment transformed an ordinary backyard into a place of joy, comfort, and hope.

“As a socially responsible company, StarKist is thrilled to partner with Roc Solid Foundation for multiple initiatives this year to help bring hope and joy to kids fighting childhood cancer,” said Mike Merritt Jr., Head of Marketing at StarKist. “Our team was honored to play a part in creating a space where Fallon can just be a kid again and where cancer isn’t front and center.”

A tradition of giving back

The playset built for Fallon is just one part of StarKist’s ongoing commitment to charitable work.

Since 2009, Roc Solid has supported thousands of families through the power of play, creating and offering hospital Ready Bags at diagnosis and building custom backyard playsets during treatment.

StarKist has also spent more than 15 years addressing food insecurity by donating millions of tuna and chicken products nationwide. The company partners with Feed the Children to provide vital disaster and emergency relief, supports Cornerstones in assisting vulnerable families in Northern Virginia, and honors Korean War veterans through its continued support of The Chosin Few.

While some corporations spend their time and money on virtue signaling for public relations purposes, StarKist demonstrates that real corporate responsibility means getting your hands dirty and making a tangible difference in people’s lives.

For little Fallon, that difference came in the form of swings, slides, and the chance to forget about cancer for a while and just enjoy being a child.

The photos from the event tell the story better than words ever could – Fallon’s face lighting up at the sight of her new playset, the joy of her first swing, and the gratitude of her family watching a community come together to bring light to a difficult journey.

In a world where bad news often dominates the headlines, stories like this remind us of the good that’s still happening in our communities when caring people and responsible companies join forces.

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