KSHB 41: Family honors their daughter, Eowyn Maynes, through a yearly toy drive on her birthday

Eowyn

By JuYeon Kim

Every Sept. 10, the Smithville community celebrates the life of Éowyn Maynes. “Fight Like A Princess Day” was started on her fifth birthday when the community held a fundraiser to help the Maynes family cover the cost of medical bills. Éowyn was fighting Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma at the time, a rare form of pediatric brain cancer.

“Every year I update the kids’ photos but life moves on, and hers didn’t get to … So her picture stays the same,” said mother Amanda Maynes.

Following Éowyn’s death on Mother’s Day 2018, her family decided to continue her legacy by hosting a toy drive each year on her birthday. September is also Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. All the donations are given to Children’s Mercy as a way to give back and to pay it forward.

“It’s a way to honor her and keep her memory alive," Amanda said. "And at the same time, give back and pay it forward to other people that are in need."

Jenea Oliver with Children’s Mercy says she remembers the day she got the call that Éowyn had passed. Oliver’s family had close ties to the Maynes.

“Every year on 'Fight Like A Princess Day,' I remember Éowyn," Oliver said. "But I also think about this amazing family who is giving back to so many other children and families in Eowyn’s legacy."

See the full story via KSHB 41.

For Children’s Mercy’s Amazon wish list for its kids, click here.

Learn more about the Cancer Center at Children's Mercy.