Rally For Riley This Saturday

The Severna Park Community Center will transform into a wellness, workout and shopping emporium – all in support of a local boy with a magnetic smile and his family – at Saturday afternoon’s Rally for Riley.

Riley Whitney is a 10-year-old battling stage 4 neuroblastoma. Originally diagnosed at age 5, Riley enjoyed years of remission before the cancer returned this summer.

“The smile on this boy’s face steals the room; it’s why they call him ‘Smiley Riley,’” said Melissa Walker, organizer of the event and friend of the Whitney family.

Walker observed the desire of the community to support the Whitneys, and she had the idea to create an event to benefit her friend and Riley’s mom, Ashley, a mother of four who had to leave her teaching career in order to tend to Riley’s rigorous treatment schedule.

Riley’s mom and dad, who lovingly co-parent and care for Riley, are Annapolis residents.

The outpouring of support from individuals and local businesses has morphed Rally for Riley into more than Walker could have imagined – a fully-sponsored event that takes over the entire community center, minus the pool.

“People are popping out of the woodwork to make this a successful event,” Walker said.

Entry to the event and access to 20 local retail vendors is $10. For $25, guests can attend one of the many fitness classes at the event.

The main gym of the community center will feature a Zumbathon, local retail vendors, and raffle baskets worth thousands of dollars.

Other spaces in the building will be transformed into a spa room, fitness room and wellness room. There will be yoga, barre, bodyweight strength and high-intensity interval training classes available. In the wellness room, guests will find vitamin injections, IV treatments, acupuncture and a hyperbaric chamber. The spa room will offer dermaplaning and skin care consultations, eyebrow and lip waxing, and massages.

Warrior Medical Group is Rally for Riley’s platinum sponsor and spearheaded the medical community’s involvement in the event.

All proceeds will go to Ashley Whitney as Riley endures several rounds of treatment at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

“The whole idea behind Rally for Riley is strength and unity,” Walker said. “We’re all coming together to show our support, but also create a financial cushion so that of all the things that she has on her plate with four boys … the thing that we don’t want her to worry about is her finances.”

Riley’s story has spurred to action friends and community members from their church family at Mariners’ Church, to the Broadneck football team, which held a “green out” game in honor of Riley’s favorite color, and even the Navy baseball team.

“The amount of love and support that has been poured out to our family is incredible,” Ashley Whitney said. “My heart is grateful for all of the generosity given. The kindness and goodness of so many has given us encouragement to keep pressing on during this difficult journey.”

Walker, while blown away by the support she’s received in growing Rally for Riley beyond her original vision, is not surprised that this family has spurred so many to action.

“If you saw (Ashley) today, she would ask you how you’re doing,” Walker said. “You just don’t forget her, and the same is true about Riley.”

Along with the financial support Walker hopes to generate for the Whitney family this weekend, notecards will also be passed around for guests to write messages of encouragement for Riley to read as he undergoes treatment.

If all goes according to plan, the Whitney family, including “Smiley Riley,” will make an appearance.

Rally for Riley runs from 2:30pm-6:00pm on November 23. Tickets may be purchased at the door, or in advance at rally-for-riley---strength-and-untiy.square.site. Entrance into the high-value raffle can be done via this Google Form.