From a life-saving surgery to a national competition, one Barrie, Ont., boy is proving to be a fighter as he vies for the title of Baby of the Year. Cash Simmons, who underwent heart surgery at just six weeks old, has advanced to the quarter-finals of the national Baby of the Year competition, presented by Golden Globe Award-nominated actress Jessica Alba. He is currently ranked 17th overall and sits among the top one per cent of babies competing in the competition. The grand prize includes $25,000, a feature in a nationwide advertising campaign and the chance to be celebrated in Variety magazine. Cash’s family describes him as a sweet and playful boy who loves being outdoors, playing in the water and spending time with his siblings. “He is a sweet and loving little boy, smiles at everyone and is very playful,” his family shared. “He loves learning new things and the outdoors.” Cash underwent heart surgery when he was just a month and a half old, but his family says that hasn’t stopped him from tapping into his adventurous side. If he wins the prize, the Simcoe County family says a trip to Disney would be at the top of their list. With four young children, it’s a trip they say they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. The rest of the money would be put into savings for the children’s future. The Baby of the Year competition’s ambassadors include Jessica Alba, Paris Hilton and Jenna Dewan, all of whom support Baby2Baby, a nonprofit organization that benefits from the competition and provides essential items to families living in poverty. Over the last 15 years, Baby2Baby says it has distributed over half a billion items to families in need across 50 states in the U.S. With seven days remaining to vote, the semi-final round closes on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m.
