Gilbert teen cancer victim's spirit lives on

It's been three years since the death of 17-year-old Charlee Hawkins, but her friends and family say her spirit and strength still inspire them.

The Gilbert High School senior continued playing golf and piano despite the amputation of her left index finger and part of her palm.

Two doctors initially told Charlee a bump on the joint of her finger was nothing to worry about. But after the "bump" started growing, another doctor discovered a rare and aggressive cancer called epithelioid sarcoma.

Charlee was just 15 when she was diagnosed. But her family and friends say her sense of humor, constant smile and laughter never waned.

"She carried all of us," said her mom, Char Hawkins. "She had a beautiful attitude and a beautiful spirit."

Charlee's legacy will continue with a memorial scholarship. A "Celebrating Charlee" benefit concert is planned Feb. 2 at Gilbert High to start raising money for the scholarship available to Gilbert district students.

Gilbert High freshman Jennie Lewis, 15, orchestrated the idea with the help of family, friends, the community and the Gilbert Education Foundation.

About 350 tickets have already been sold for the concert, which will feature musical performers and a dance group.

"I just hope that everyone will realize Charlee left a great legacy, and to never forget her," Jennie said.

After Charlee's death, Jennie received her golf shoes and bike. Jennie wore Charlee's shoes this season while playing for Gilbert High's golf team, and said she felt Charlee was cheering her on.

"I feel she's watching over me," Jennie said. "I felt a connection with her."

Jennie is a neighbor of the Hawkins family and remembers Charlee often coming over to hang out with her older sister, Diana.

"She always had a fun side to her," Jennie said. "She was always happy, and always nice to us."

Despite her missing finger, Charlee never hid her hand. She relearned how to play the piano with nine fingers.

When Charlee first found her bump, she named it "Humpy Humperson." After her finger was amputated, she changed that to "Stumpy Stumperson."

Her friends nicknamed her "Nine" after the amputation. To show support, her family and friends wore shirts with the outline of two hands, with the left hand missing the index finger.

On Jan. 21, 2004, Charlee celebrated her first "handiversary." It had been a year since she lost her finger.

Her family made hand sugar cookies, and Charlee was the "doctor" who cut off the index finger of each cookie.

"For her it was very appropriate," Char Hawkins said.

Her family has continued the tradition. Monday marked five years since Charlee's amputation.

Friday will mark three years since Charlee's death.

"We'll do lots of laughing and reminiscing," Char Hawkins said. "She influences our family on a daily basis, still."

The unusual hand sugar cookies will be given to anyone buying a concert ticket from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at Gilbert High's bookstore.

‘Celebrating Charlee’

When: 7 p.m. Feb. 2

Where: Gilbert High School auditorium, 1101 E. Elliot Road

Tickets: $12 or groups of 10 for $100, available from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the school bookstore

Information: (480) 926-8877