Evie Clair

Tag: fighting cancer

  • A Letter to Nightbirde

    A Letter to Nightbirde

    Dear Jane,

    Pain. If there is a faster path to heaven, let me know when you find it. For now, I suppose that we’re on it together.

    Four years ago I found myself on America’s Got Talent, my dad was dying of cancer, and I felt like giving up on a lot more than just the show. The pain was the only thing that outweighed the fear. It hurt so badly to watch him fight so hard, just to see him lose a little more each day. It was enough to make even the biggest stage in the world feel meaningless. I can’t congratulate you enough for having pushed so far.

    I think we both know that all of this is so much more than a talent show. The music is so much more than the hits. The pain is so much more than a story.  There’s a grand purpose to so much pain, and my dad knew it. He always told me, “men are that they might have joy.” In other words, “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.”

    So, we sing on TV. We sing to ourselves. We sing to God, and know that He hears through the off-notes, and the sloppy prose. I couldn’t help but smile at “It’s OK”. It brought me face to face with my 13 year old self, writing “Okay Day”. Although I hadn’t had an okay day in a long time, I knew that if I sang it anyways it might just come true. My dad taught me that. He was right.

    I hope that this letter finds you well. I hope that everyone can find as much strength in your story as I do. You’re never alone.

    -Evie Clair

     

  • The Prayer with Angelica Hale for Kids Kicking Cancer

    The Prayer with Angelica Hale for Kids Kicking Cancer

    An amazing group called Kids Kicking Cancer brought together two friends and competitors from America’s Got Talent season 12 for a stunning interview with Rabbi G. He invited Angelica and Evie to the Hero’s Circle for their examples of strength and light through difficult times. They then sing an epic duet of The Prayer made famous by both Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli AND Josh Groban and Charlotte Church. This inspiring song was written by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager. Many thanks to Charity Bids for arranging this incredible collaboration.

    I pray you’ll be our eyes
    And watch us where we go
    And help us to be wise
    In times when we don’t know

    Let this be our prayer
    As we go our way
    Lead us to a place
    Guide us with your Grace
    To a place where we’ll be safe

    La luce che to dai (I pray we’ll find your light)
    Nel cuore restero (And hold it in our hearts)
    A ricordarchi che (When stars go out each night)
    L’eterna stella sei
    Nella mia preghiera (Let this be our prayer)
    Quanta fede c’e (When shadows fill our day)

    Lead us to a place
    Guide us with your grace

    Give us faith so we’ll be safe.
    Sognamo un mondo senza piu violenza

    Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
    Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
    Simbolo di pace e di fraternita

    La forza che ci dai (We ask that life be kind)
    E’il desiderio che (And watch us from above)
    Ognuno trovi amore (We hope each soul will find)
    Intorno e dentro a se (Another soul to love)

    Let this be our prayer
    Let this be our prayer
    Just like every child
    Just like every child

    Needs to find a place,
    Guide us with your grace
    Give us faith so we’ll be safe
    E la fede che
    Hai acceso in noi
    Sento che ci salvera

     

     

  • Limelight Gala

    Limelight Gala

    This is Evie’s second time performing for the Limelight Gala. Her first time was in Philadelphia just after America’s Got Talent. This year because of COVID, the event was done virtually. Evie’s performance starts about and hour and 8 minutes into the program.

    HEADstrong’s virtual event is hosted by Fox29’s Good Day Philadelphia co-anchor Thomas Drayton celebrated the 25-year career of Jacqui Melott, a devoted frontline oncology nurse at the Abramson Cancer Center of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  The event also honored the courageous Delaney Unger, a 14-year old whose dancing career was halted when she was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma and her triumphant return to fulfilling her dream of dancing much in part to receiving rotationplasty surgery.  HEADstrong also recognized the relentless efforts of the Radcliffe family of West Chester, PA, who have embarked on an incredible journey in partnership with the HEADstrong Foundation, through the creation of the Charlotte Grace Fund, to help local families overcome by pediatric cancers in loving memory of their daughter, who bravely battled Medulloblastoma, a malignant form of brain cancer.

    Through the virtual event, viewers will have the ability to interact and contribute to the HEADstrong Foundation.  Proceeds will underwrite a full year of lodging and comfort at Nick’s House, a guest residence that welcomes families to the City of Brotherly Love during the most critical, vulnerable and desperate time of their lives as they pursue lifesaving treatment only available in Philadelphia.  In addition to the online program, the event featured an unbelievable silent auction featuring packages, memorabilia, experiences, luxury items.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has only added a layer of complexity for those navigating a pre-existing cancer fight and delays in treatment have posed several challenges for those requiring necessary and time sensitive treatments.  The economic impact has been equally devastating and the need for funding is at an all-time high.

    The HEADstrong Foundation exists to improve lives affected by cancer.  The organization was founded by Nicholas “HEAD’ Colleluori, a beloved student-athlete from the Philadelphia suburbs, who was terminally diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and created the organization from his hospital bed to serve as the resource that he wished existed for his own family during their greatest time of need.  Colleluori was a D1 athlete at the time of his diagnosis whose battle was chronicled by ESPN, who used his platform to put forth tangible solutions to the everyday challenges of families living the reality of cancer.