Grieving the loss of their 8-year-old daughter Hailey Jean Pease, who passed away in July after a three-month battle with leukemia, Shannon Maxim and Richard Pease struggled to comprehend how they'd make it through the holidays.

"We were trying to think of ways that we could still celebrate Christmas," Maxim said.

Hailey passed away on July 28, just ten days after her 8th birthday. She was set to enter second grade at Minot Forest Elementary this year.

Life will never be the same for the family, but Maxim and Pease wanted to find a way to make the holiday special, especially for Hailey's 12-year-old sister, Mary Jane Woods.

"We wanted to find a way to make [the holidays] a little less painful," Maxim explained. "We were looking for something we could do every year in memory of Hailey."

Thus, the Holiday Hope Raiser in Memory of Hailey Jean Pease was born.

It's a hope-raiser, not a fundraiser, because the family wants to bring hope to the families who are spending the holidays at Children's Hospital Boston with sick children.

Maxim remembers the countless hours she spent with her sick daughter at Children's.

Hailey's death is "painful for us," Maxim explained, "but even before she passed away, [it was] painful when we were in the hospital. I just think about those kids all the time. ... We want to bring some hope to them."

The Hope Raiser will be held this Sunday, December 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Wareham Elks Lodge, located at 2855 Cranberry Highway in East Wareham.

The event will feature family-friendly activities from face-painting to cookie decorating and crafts. Santa will make an appearance at 11 a.m. Parents are encouraged to bring cameras.

Admission is an unwrapped gift or a gift card valued at $10 per child attending, which will then be donated to families at Children's Hospital Boston. Activities are free of charge.

Children's Hospital Boston sets up a "store" with all of the toys it receives during the holiday season and parents with children in the hospital can choose gifts and wrap them, Maxim said.

"They do an amazing job [at Children's Hospital] getting the parents involved," Maxim said. "You don't get to go shopping."

Maxim asks that any gift cards donated be for CVS, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Bertucci's, Subway, Dairy Queen, or Stop & Shop. Those stores that are located near the hospital.

"When you're stuck there, you don't really have a way around," Maxim noted.

Organizers are also putting together care packages for parents with shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other necessities. Gift cards for Dollar Tree would also be appreciated, Maxim said, so that supplies for the gift baskets can be purchased.

Maxim and fellow organizers will deliver the donated toys and the care packages to the hospital on December 19.

For more information about the Holiday Hope Raiser in Memory of Hailey Jean Pease and to read more about Hailey's courageous battle with leukemia, visit www.facebook.com/prayersforhailey.