EVERETT — M&M’s are a special comfort for this family.
Those are the initials of Maria Moore, who died from an aggressive leukemia at age 9. The girl from Duvall who loved the Seahawks and laughing would have turned 16 this year.
In memory of Maria, her brother, T.J. Moore, 14, donated his trove of about 100 M&M’s collectible items for a sale on Saturday at BobaKhan Toys in Everett.
All money raised goes to Seattle Children’s for cancer research.
T.J. wants the items to help kids with cancer. BobaKahn is among his favorite stores.
“It’s his way of honoring his sister and dealing with his loss,” said his grandmother, Patti Martin, formerly of Mukilteo.
The assortment of smiling M&M’s in bright colors includes a clock, phone, radio, train, plane, statues, ornaments and numerous candy decanters.
Maria Moore and her younger brother, T.J., before her cancer diagnosis in 2013. Maria was 9 when she died in 2015. T.J., 14, started collecting candy-themed items and donated the collection to raise money for Seattle Children’s cancer research. (Submitted photo)
BobaKhan co-owner Leslie Spraggins said she priced the merchandise reasonably, $5 and up. Her store donated a yellow M&M’s figure on wheels that stands about 3½ feet tall, a collectible that was used as a candy display.
“It is worth $400,” she said.
Spraggins was happy to help the cause.
She praised Seattle Children’s for the care given to her 6-year-old grandson, born with cerebral palsy.
“They didn’t think he’d live past 2,” Spraggins said. “They have worked miracles and done a lot for us.”
T.J. started collecting M&M’s items a few years after his older sister’s death “as something small to take my mind off what had happened … but it then became almost like a memorial to her,” he wrote in a statement. “Now that I find myself moving past some of the sadness and seeing it more in a positive light, I decided to donate my collection so that others may share the joy that they once gave me.”
Maria spent much of the two years after her diagnosis in the hospital.
Martin said her granddaughter “lit up” when then-Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson would stop by to see her on regular visits to Seattle Children’s.
Maria even gave him some advice about his love life after seeing pictures of his then-girlfriend Ciara.
“She looked at Russell and said, ‘You know, you should marry that pretty lady,’” Martin said.
Wilson did.
T.J. and his grandmother will be at the store, 500 SE Everett Mall Way, from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Andrea Brown: abrown@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter @reporterbrown.
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