By Petra Chesner Schlatter, BucksLocalNews.com

Everyone loves ice cream. And Barbara Lawless of Yardley is inviting members of the community to Ice Cream Junction in Morrisville to benefit Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Childhood Cancer Research for a Cure.

Lawless’ granddaughter, Leah Chapman of Langhorne, was diagnosed with a rare cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma, in Jan. 2008, and passed away in April at age 14.

“Up until the time she died, she never missed a day of school. She had skull and brain cancer. The pain was excruciating,” Leah’s grandmother said.

The benefit is honoring Leah and all the children touched with cancer. The event will take place on Sunday, Oct. 4 from noon to 8 p.m. at Ice Cream Junction (formerly Sweet Hearts), 79 East Trenton Ave., Morrisville Shopping Center.

“Leah was a very beautiful girl,” said Lawless. “She had blonde hair and bluish green eyes. She was a tall, thin girl.

Lawless noted, “This child never once complained to anyone. She never cried in front of anyone. She had a constant smile. Her courage was beyond belief.”

Leah was a student at Maple Point in the Nesh-aminy School District.

“She was a great, natural athlete,” Lawless said. Her granddaughter ran track. She played soccer, basketball and softball. She was also an honor student.

Lawless said Leah initially wanted to be in elementary education when she was older. But, when she was diagnosed with cancer as a patient at CHOP, she wanted to be in the oncology field.

As a grandparent, Lawless is moved by the fundraising efforts by neighborhood children and her classmates. “Maple Point Middle School has always been a great support system for Leah and her family,” she said. “We have great kids!”

Two Langhorne girls, Sami DelViscio, 10, and Julia Oakes, 9, have raised and donated $10,000 to CHOP Childhood Cancer Research in memory of their dearest friend, neighbor and former babysitter.

Leah had a “purposeful life. Her dream and goal was to make people aware of childhood cancer and the need for research to find a cure. That was her wish — which we all continue with that purpose. She was mature. She was always wise beyond her years,” Lawless said.

The daughter of Christina and Ray, Leah had a brother, Eric, who is 12.

Eric ran in memory of his sister in The Parkway 5K Run which benefits CHOP’s cancer center.

Leah was the 2008 Patient Ambassador for the Parkway Run/Walk and successfully formed Team Chappy with her family and friends.

“I promised Leah I would continue what she started last year with Team Chappy and Children’s Hospital in finding better treatments and a cure for pediatric cancer,” Eric said.

Lawless, who leads an annual collection of clothing for Native American children, has started “Leah’s Library” in some of the 40 schools she assists. About 2,000 books have been collected and sent out West.