First seeds of the season planted at Maria's Field of Hope

AVON — In the late summer or early fall when its sunflowers are in full bloom, Maria's Field of Hope is a widely known destination for both sightseers and those looking for a place to reflect on the victims of childhood cancer. But for much of the year, it is just a field between Interstate 90 and Chester Road. The transition from field to destination began anew Sunday, when the Prayers From Maria Foundation invited the public to ceremonially plant the first seeds of the season. "Today it's about the seed, and I think we have to remember that is just as important as the bloom," said Megan McNamara, whose daughter, Maria, is the namesake of the field. Maria died in 2007 at age 7 from a diffused intrinsic pontine glioma. The field was first planted in 2013 by the Prayers from Maria Foundation to draw awareness to the lack of funding for childhood cancer research, and it has come to represent the kids who continue to battle cancer today. Among the first people to plant seeds Sunday were Avon families who just had to drive down the road to reach the field, as well as others who drove more than an hour to plant there. Lauren, 13, Connor, 15, Megan Rice, 13, and family live in town and have visited the field before when it is in bloom, but Sunday was their first time coming out to plant the seeds. Their mom, Kate Coleman, said it was a great opportunity to volunteer as a family for a good cause. Sunday was also the first time friends Madeline Josey, 14, and Abbie Thomas, 15, planted seeds in the Field of Hope. They came all the way from Canal Fulton in Stark County. Madeline said it was important to her to be part of the planting "to raise awareness for people with cancer." She has visited the Field of Hope in Sandusky, where she has written notes and prayed for cancer patients. Other planters were returners. This year was the second or third year for Katie Thompson, of Avon, and her daughter Emily Porter, 8. "We're just grateful that they are able to keep planting here," said Thompson, who heard the field might not be able to be planted due to the ongoing development along Chester Road. As many plots of land in the area of Maria's Field of Hope are developed, McNamara said she is thankful that landowner The Richard E. Jacobs Group continues allowing the foundation to use the property. Still, she said a search is actively underway for a permanent field to use, ideally in Avon. But on Sunday, McNamara was content just to talk with planters about their various motivations for stopping by. "People will go out and plant seeds for whatever they're here for today," she said. "There are a lot of families here who have lost children." Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357.