Fundraiser Held At McDonald’s For Local Girl

By Chris Cole,
Staff Writer

Childhood is supposed to be a time in life when the only cares you have are making sure your room is clean and toys put away, your homework is done for your classes, hanging with friends is super important and going to bed on time means being ready to greet the upcoming day.

That’s how it’s supposed to be.

A child shouldn’t have to deal with cancer, especially one like leukemia.

For 10-year-old Mia Hammock though, this is what she has to deal with.

“She was diagnosed in June of this year,” said Lacey Burton, Mia’s mother.

When describing how she’s felt about seeing her daughter go through what she has, Burton stated, “So many times I have felt absolutely defeated, hopeless, even useless. Then I look at my daughter and see that after everything she has and is going through she’s still the most upbeat happy little soul you could be around.”

Burton, who is good friends with Kara Williams at Dollar General and her husband Marshal, who is a director of operations with McDonald’s, were able to get an idea going at the Scottsville McDonald’s location on Monday, Aug. 26. With the help of Burton’s cousin Morgan Burton and the GM of McDonald’s in Scottsville Christina Smith, they decided that from 4 to 8 p.m., 10 percent of all sales would go to a fund for Mia. Additionally, a bucket for donations was put at the counter in case anyone wanted to donate above the amount that was collected.

The drive-through seemed to be extended out as far as the street and did not appear to get any shorter. There were also some people inside the restaurant who were happy to participate with even the Hamburglar taking a break from his attempt at stealing burgers from customers to take photos and offer encouragement instead.

Burton expressed gratitude for the show of support from the Scottsville and Allen County community.

“I’ve always dreamed of having the ‘village’ of people I see all these moms on social media talk about,” she said.  “I have very few people in my day-to-day life that I can count on no matter what. I will say that several people in this small town community came together in a time that I needed it the absolute most! Most of them strangers really that have kind, compassionate hearts to help. I have two cousins (Brandy and Morgan Burton) that really came through, pulled some strings and helped out greatly.”

She added that she has “three other kids” and that while Mia was in the hospital initially for 36 days, that “donations from the people of my hometown is what provided for my kids when I couldn’t from being thrown into a horrible situation abruptly. That was a glimmer of joy and happiness when I was feeling so down. Thankful for my employer (Dollar General) and my work family there, they have been amazing!”

She also went on to thank “The school system of Allen County. Nearly every one of Mia’s teachers, past and present, personally reached out to me to check on Mia and sent gifts and prayer. That really touched my heart and Mia’s! Trey Harper (director of pupil personnel) is a blessing to our school system! I’m so grateful for a wonderful and  supportive school staff!”

As for Mia, Burton said, “She’s a preteen girl. She loves hanging out with her friends, scrolling TikTok solely to learn TikTok dances. She loves music and dancing.”

Mia herself stated that she’s most looking forward to “being able to see my friends at school again and go to the movie theaters.”

It may take awhile though before Mia is able to do any of that again.

“The chemo she takes along with the leukemia itself makes her ‘immuno-compromised’ so being in public places or around a lot of people is not an option while she’s in active treatment,” said Burton.

Through everything though Burton said that Mia has remained strong and upbeat. That has helped Burton herself remain strong.

“Mia has been absolutely dauntless through this. I could read the dictionary front to back and still not find the right words to explain how strong and courageous she truly is and has been! She doesn’t get her strength from me, I get mine from her. It would be a disgrace if I couldn’t find it in myself to be a fraction of how strong she is.”

On September 7, Mia will turn 11 years old and Burton thinks she’ll just continue to keep fighting like she has with “typical preteen sass and all.”

She then continued by saying, “Every child is unique and amazing in their own ways but Mia is force to be reckoned with. She’s always been so full of life and a real character. It’s so hard to be anything but happy around her. She’s the first to put a smile on someone’s face. To know her is truly to love her, she won’t give you a choice! I believe that children are the closest thing we get to heaven on earth! And God sent Mia Hammock with a purpose, this cancer is a chapter in her story not the whole book. When her treatments are all said and done she is going to come back stronger, healthier than ever and continue to make her mark in this world.”

Burton then concluded by reiterating the support she, Mia and all their family have received.

“I want everyone that has supported Mia and my family in one way or another to know how sincerely thankful I am. Small towns often get a bad rap but what a community we have. I couldn’t be more proud to call this place home.”