Paint the Town Red for Fuller

What: Fundraiser for Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, where 8-year-old Fuller Goldsmith of Tuscaloosa is being treated for leukemia

How to help: Red bows for home display are being sold at Bow Regards, 1520 McFarland Blvd. N, for a minimum donation of $10. 

More information: Call Bow Regards at 205-344-4446.

It’s part of the Paint the Town Red for Fuller event, which is raising money for Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, where 8-year-old Fuller Goldsmith has received treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Red bows are being sold at Bow Regards for a minimum donation of $10. Proceeds will benefit Children’s Hospital. 

“We have sold close to 1,000 bows since Feb. 1,” said Jennifer Hamner, Bow Regards owner. “We keep having to order more and more ribbon.”

Hamner said Franny Jones, a friend of the Goldsmith family, initiated the fundraiser after hearing about a similar event in Birmingham. 

“Red is Fuller’s favorite color, plus with Valentine’s (Day) and the recent Alabama championship, we though February was a perfect time for this,” Hamner said. 

So far, about $10,000 has been raised in the effort. 

“Fuller has been sick since he was 3 and a half, and we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about him,” said Hamner, who lives in Fuller’s neighborhood. “He’s been so sick. We wanted to do something to bring a smile to his face.”

It’s not the first time an event has been held to raise money for Children’s Hospital in Fuller’s name. Fuller’s Festival was held at Water Oaks Farm in 2009. The children’s festival raised more than $100,000 for the hospital. 

“It’s really amazing how this community pulls together to support a good cause,” said Scott Goldsmith, Fuller’s dad. 

Fuller has started to notice the red bows around his neighborhood and around town, Goldsmith said. Whenever he sees one, he says points to it and says, “There’s a Fuller’s bow! There’s a Fuller’s bow!”

The family plans to drive Fuller around Tuscaloosa at the end of the month to look at the bows that have been hung in his honor. 

Fuller, who was first diagnosed with leukemia in 2007, relapsed in April 2011 and is undergoing his second round of chemotherapy, which is expected to last two years.

The bows for Fuller will be available at Bow Regards until Feb. 14. The bows will be hung through the end of the month. 

A Facebook page has also been created. Event organizers ask people to take a photo of themselves with their red bow and post the picture on the event’s Facebook page.