A free family festival benefiting local children battling cancer and their families returns to Fernandina Beach's Central Park on Saturday, Nov. 14, with bounce houses, food trucks, raffles and activities for all ages.

The fourth annual Addy Fest runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a "Walk of Fame" recognizing children in the community affected by childhood cancer, according to the Amelia Islander.

Admission is free. Proceeds from raffles, donations and participating vendors will support families affected by childhood cancer and an outreach effort for Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville.

Organized by Addy's Army, the festival also honors the memory of Fernandina Beach resident Addison "Addy" Tomberlin, who died of leukemia in September 2023. This year's event falls on what would have been her 14th birthday.

A community tradition

Addy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on May 29, 2016, when she was 3½ years old. She had Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia, an aggressive form of the disease that required extensive treatment.

She spent more than 250 days in the hospital and underwent years of chemotherapy, according to CURE Childhood Cancer.

After a relapse in 2019, Addy received CAR T-cell therapy and remained cancer-free for approximately four years. Her cancer returned in August 2023, and she died Sept. 26, 2023, at age 10.

Friends of the Tomberlin family had begun planning a fundraiser before Addy's death. The event became a celebration of her life and grew into an annual gathering for families throughout Nassau County.

"Addy was in 5th grade when she said goodbye," her mother, Stephanie Tomberlin, told the Amelia Islander. "Her friends and classmates had fought her battle beside her for most of their school years, and I was worried about them."

The festival gives children, classmates and families an opportunity to celebrate together while recognizing others who have faced childhood cancer.

Addy's Army supports cancer research

The Tomberlin family established Addy's Army Fund through CURE Childhood Cancer, a nonprofit supporting pediatric cancer research and families navigating treatment and loss.

The fund supports research into treatments such as immunotherapy and provides assistance to children undergoing cancer treatment, their siblings and their families.

Beyond Addy Fest, the group organizes community fundraising activities, including an Easter egg drop and a trunk-or-treat event.

In September, Addy's Army hosted its inaugural After Addy Party, a fundraiser benefiting childhood cancer research and family support programs, according to Jacksonville.com.

Stephanie Tomberlin has described the events as a way to honor children affected by cancer while giving back to the community that supported her family.

Addy Fest takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 14 at Central Park in Fernandina Beach. Donations to the Addy's Army Fund can be made through CURE Childhood Cancer.