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Westwood Mom Launches Toy Drive For Ailing Toddler

BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — After reading in Daily Voice about a Little Ferry toddler battling metastatic retinoblastoma, one Westwood mom knew she had to help.

Agatha Okumara with her boys.

Agatha Okumara with her boys.

Photo Credit: Agatha Okumara
Annie Joachim with daughters Charlotte, right, and Piper.

Annie Joachim with daughters Charlotte, right, and Piper.

Photo Credit: Annie Joachim
Lil Ryu is battling metastatic

Lil Ryu is battling metastatic

Photo Credit: Agatha Okumara
Annie Joachim with husband Mike and daughters Charlotte, 3, and Piper, 18 months.

Annie Joachim with husband Mike and daughters Charlotte, 3, and Piper, 18 months.

Photo Credit: Annie Joachim
Joachim's girls: Charlotte, 3, and Piper, 18 months.

Joachim's girls: Charlotte, 3, and Piper, 18 months.

Photo Credit: Annie Joachim

Annie Joachim is turning to the more than 13,000 women who belong to her Facebook group, Bergen County Moms, to help make Lil Ryu's holiday season unforgettable.

Joachim is collecting toys, books and clothing for Lil Ryu, who will spend Christmas and his fifth birthday on Dec. 28 in the hospital.

"Running Bergen County Moms has been a gift," said Joachim, who last year helped an East Rutherford family battling cancer.

When we pick a charity to help, we go full force. 

"We put forth every effort to make sure our goals are not only met, but exceeded."

Joachim is collecting:

  • Mashems
  • Surprise Eggs
  • Clothing in sizes 5 and 7/8
  • Educational toys
  • Drawing tools (paper, pencils, markers, crayons, stencils)
  • A small kids' activity table
  • Classic children and chapter books

"Coming from a very charitable upbringing, I've always tried to find my place in the charity society," Joachim said. "I guess I made my own place.

"We don't just help dreams come true. We make them come true."

CONTACT ANNIE JOACHIM ON FACEBOOK TO DONATE.

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