FERGUS – An upcoming fundraiser has united the community in support of a local teen recently diagnosed with cancer and his family.
When Luke Ford-Szekeres started growing his hair to donate to kids with cancer, he never expected to be diagnosed with classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma when cutting it off nearly four years later.
A 17-year-old student at Centre Wellington District High School who was inspired to grow his hair after an E. A he was close with from his elementary school was diagnosed with cancer, Luke said he never expected to receive a similar outpouring of support after his diagnosis in April.
"(It feels) great to know all these people are here for me, it's really nice," said Luke, who started chemotherapy earlier this month and is expected to finish in six months.
"So much is going through my head. I'm grateful. I'm proud of everyone, mostly Luke. He's handled this like a champ," said Bridgette, Luke's mom. "We've had to deal with this for a whole year already and now (that he's diagnosed) I'm just proud of him."
Called Team Luke, the fundraiser was created by Bridgette's friends, Andrea Clayford and Andrea Acton.
Bridgette's employer, Acton said she felt it was "very important" to help the family when she heard the news because she wanted to reduce the financial impact of hospital stays and travel when Luke receives treatment at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto as Bridgette will be on E.I. and Rick, Luke's dad has severe COPD and hasn't been able to work or travel for two years.
Taking place at the Fergus Legion this Saturday starting at 7 p.m., the fundraiser will have raffles, a silent auction, games, a door prize and live music and has already raised approximately $13,000.
"I felt like I had to do something for Bridgette because I lost a kid and it makes me happy to help people that are going in another hospital and dealing with the extra stress," said Acton, the mother of a special needs son named Gavin who passed away when he was 10. "The last thing she needs to worry about is finances."
Bridgette said she first noticed Luke had a swollen lymph node when they went to the walk-in clinic for an ear infection but was assured it would get better with anti-biotics as there were no other cancerous symptoms.
Luke was checked for cancer two months later after his grandma found a large growth on his neck covered by his long hair that Bridgette said looked like "it almost happened overnight.
After undergoing almost a year of tests and doctor appointments to determine what was wrong, Luke said he plans to use his experience to raise awareness about the symptoms of childhood cancer.
"Deep down we knew. Our doctors told us right off the bat this is what it could be and all the tests kept coming back negative, negative, negative," said Bridgette. "And (I remember our doctor) said 'something is being missed.' And she didn't know what until finally...we got the diagnosis."
Since the fundraiser was created, Acton said she's received messages from people who have taken their children to get checked out for the same thing after seeing posts about Luke's story on social media.
"(With childhood cancer) you're not always going to be sick. You don't always have the signs and if you think something's wrong, go with your gut," said Acton. "The worst you're going to get is nothing wrong but childhood awareness it's not the same. Every kid is different...and as parents you have to go with your gut."
Outside of Team Luke, Acton said she wants to hold a fundraising event annually to help families in similar predicaments that need financial support with the intent to grow the event over time.
"As much as Luke and Bridgette didn't want to be public in all this, it's helping others get answers in the community," said Acton. "And that's what we're trying to do, we want to help people and we want to help families not have the same struggle."
As for Luke and his family, they intend to remain positive and say they can't wait for the moment when he finishes treatment and gets to ring the bell.
"My next steps are just to take everything one day at a time. Make sure I'm listening and following all of the proper protocols," said Luke. "I'm feeling alright, I'm feeling good about everything going on and I'm just working through the chemo right now, letting it do its thing and just trying to stay positive."
More information about the Team Luke fundraiser and tickets are available here.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
