Fundraiser Planned for Boy with Brain Tumor

The search for a cure to cancer takes a metro Detroit family all the way to Texas. Meanwhile, here at home, they're getting a good dose of hope.

"I love playing sports, and I want Ben to be able to do those things, too," said Matthew Blackman.

Matthew echoes the emotions of everyone in the room. They just want Ben to be okay.

"It could be any one of us. (It) could be any of our children, and you just hate to think about seeing any child going through this type of pain," said Linda Ishbia.

Local doctors told Ben's mom nothing could be done about the growing brain tumor in the eight-year-old boy. So, desperate to save his life, she took him to Houston for experimental, expensive treatment.

"It's experimental treatment, so it's not covered by insurance. So, we just tried to raise as much money as we could to help him," Blackman said.

His classmates, his community and complete strangers are coming together and helping to pay for the $30,000 treatment.

Kids at Meadowbrook Elementary, Ben's school in Novi, and kids at the nearby Hickory Woods Elementary have spent recess time making cards and posters, raising money to help pay for Ben's medical expenses. Now, a great fundraising party is planned for Saturday, November 7 at Bayside Sports Grille in Walled Lake. It's a tremendous show of support that even translates to a hospital 1,400 miles away.

"Ben just kept saying, 'All of this for me,'" Ishbia said. "He couldn't believe it, and he's so excited to know that they're all these people who really want to help him."

Click here for more information on the fundraiser at the Bayside Sports Grille.