In March, Gorham community members came together because a little boy named Kenny Reed is fighting for his life. Bright and energetic Kenny Reed, a nine-year-old third grader from Narragansett Elementary School, found a lump in his throat during a pre-Christmas vacation to Disney World. By January, he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare but aggressive form of childhood cancer.
This form of cancer is so rare only 250 children are diagnosed with it annually in the U.S. By February, Reed started chemotherapy treatments at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland and is scheduled to add six weeks of radiation treatment at Mass General in Boston.
Photo credit Danielle LeChance PhotographyKenny Reed, third-grader at Narragansett, has a rare form of cancer and the Gorham community rallied to help Reed and his family recently at The Kenny Reed, Our Superhero Fundraiser.
Faced with the feelings of “what if it were my child?” fellow moms from the third-grade class at Narragansett needed to do something for the family. After hearing about the extensive treatment Reed would undergo, what started as a T-shirt fundraiser grew to include a family-focused fundraising event.
On March 31, The Kenny Reed, Our Superhero Fundraiser was held at the Gorham Sports Center and an estimated 600 people came to support and encourage Reed and his family. Cancer survivors, young and old, came to share their love for the family through stories of hope and resiliency. Donated auction and raffle items were plentiful and bidders were generous with Reed in mind.
For those who attended the event, they may have come expecting to see a frail, ill little guy and parents who were distraught or discouraged looking at the battle ahead of them, but instead, Reed was seen throughout the event running and playing with his many friends, making it clear to everyone that this kid is a fighter.
Although the family has medical insurance, parts of treatment are currently being denied or held for further processing to determine coverage for certain procedures, tests, or treatments. The Kenny Reed, Our Superhero fundraising event raised enough to cover their expenses associated with the lengthy seven-week stay in Boston during radiation treatment, and some of their medical expenses.
With the additional support of area businesses, friends, and the Reed Allen Community Fund the hope is to cover more treatment expenses. Benefits from the community coming together have far exceeded the monetary ones, however.
Matt Reed, Kenny’s father, shared that although the cancer diagnosis was devastating to their family, making it hard to be brave or even get out of bed some days, the support and love they have felt from this community has been awesome and energizing.
“I cannot imagine living in a better community or town,” was a common statement heard during the event. For two hours, members of the community paused their own lives and answered the call to support another in need.
To continue to show the Reed family love, letters of emotional support can be sent to The Reed Family, 1 Emerson Place, Apt 3-O, Boston MA 02114. If you would like to make a donations of financial support, please email michelleinmancarlson@yahoo.com for more information.