MONROE, N.C. -- Spencer Griffin, 9, hopped on his new bike and took a few laps around the Wal-Mart in Monroe, NC.

It's Christmas Eve and the store isn't even open to the public.

Despite being closed, 30 families including Spencer's packed the toy aisles, grabbing any gift they wanted.

Spencer was riding shotgun on the bike; chemotherapy, hospital stays, and worries all took a back seat.

Spencer has Rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft-tissue cancer. He wasn't thinking of his illness the night before Christmas.

His gifts won't cost his family a thing either, thanks to Hometown Heroes, a local charity that dubs itself as 'Big Kids helping Little Kids'.

Throughout the year, they help children with life-altering illnesses, but Christmas Eve is their big event.

"This is the stuff, boy. We're having a ball out here," said Donnie Dixon, President of Hometown Heroes.

Dixon will be the first to admit he enjoys this night just as much as the children do.

All thirty families spent hours inside the store, following their children around, as they chose which toys they'll take home with them.

Because for the night, these children were not patients; they're not any different at all. They're just kids in a toy store.