Denim, rhinestones, cowboy hats and boots filled the ballroom at Brownwood Hotel & Spa on Jan. 21 as the Villages chapter of Kids Beating Cancer hosted its western-themed Saddle Up for Cancer luncheon and fashion show. 

Behind the fun theme, live auction bids and for-purchase fashions from The Villages local retailers modeled by 19 “Silver Rockettes” and five local gentlemen from the community, was a powerful purpose.  

Attendees really stepped it up, too because with all that, plus donations, the event raised more than $305,000 to help children battling cancer and support their families during treatment. 

The Villages chapter partners with the Orlando-based Kids Beating Cancer organization, raising funds year-round to help provide access to life-saving treatments, support pediatric cancer research and help families facing childhood cancer feel less alone.  

The Villages chapter formed when local women partnered with the Orlando-based nonprofit, each driven by personal reasons to help. Their signature events blend community, compassion and deeply personal stories that remind attendees exactly why their support matters. While the event has ended, volunteers and supporters are already planning next year’s gala scheduled for Feb. 23, 2027. 

“We’re here for one reason, to save children’s lives,” the event emcee told attendees. “Everything started 32 years ago with the loss of one little boy named John, and that’s how Margaret gets started.” 

Founder and CEO Margaret Guedes created Kids Beating Cancer in 1992 after losing her 9-year-old son, an experience that still drives her work today. 

“We’ve been passionately trying to make an impact in the community and help children have access to the best treatment without having to leave the community,” Margaret says. “And investing into what it takes to help build our community medically so they can have access to that best care here.” 

“It was so critical for me to make sure that we not only provide the access to the medical, but that we never lost sight of the families during the journey,” she says. 

This year’s event also highlighted the story of Chloe, a childhood cancer survivor, and her mother, whose family received support from the organization during Chloe’s treatment. Her diagnosis came as a shock. 

“Chloe was 3 years old, like a month before her 4th birthday,” the mother says.  “You just think the worst, like my kid has cancer, what’s gonna happen? The first thing I thought of was oh no, I’m gonna lose my child.” 

Fast forward to the end of Chloe’s first round of chemo and further bad news. Doctors say the cancer had a mutation and that there was nothing more they could do. 

“It was the day before her birthday and she was so excited because she was gonna turn four. She was like, ‘Mommy what am I gonna look like?’” says her mom. “I kept thinking, she’s gonna be four and that’s all she’s gonna be. Four.” 

“How can I soak up the moment and enjoy everything just having her around.” 

Chloe remembers that day as well, but a little differently. 

“When I saw my mom crying, I told her she didn’t need to cry because I was turning four and it was gonna be a really happy moment for us,” Chloe says. 

Regardless, the family continued looking for options, waiting for answers and hoping for a miracle.  

“My husband has researched everything he possibly could and he spoke with a doctor who told him they had a similar case,” mom says. “Five days after that devastating news, they did an auto biopsy and I remember Dr. Levy walking toward me with a big smile and he hugged me and Chloe and said: ‘We got our miracle.’” 

Chloe underwent seven months of chemotherapy, completing treatment on Nov. 13, 2020 and Kids Beating Cancer was with them every step of the way. She credits them with helping her family feel supported during treatment. 

“Having Kids Beating Cancer was beyond words. It’s like you’re going through something so horrible, but you have people who care about your family, and they want to make you feel loved, they want to help you feel like you matter,” she says. “They decorate the room; they provide food for us as a family. We spent Christmas and New Years in the hospital, but they brought Christmas trees and decorations. They brought Santa and the Grinch and that was so important to us.”  

Today, she says, everyday moments with Chloe feel like a gift. 

“It’s amazing to watch her sing, watch her play, watch her personality,” mom says. “Every day is so special. Every day. Sometimes the kids (Chloe and her brother) are fighting and I get stressed out, but you know, like it’s life. I’m so thankful that I have that.”