In support of their 14 year old teammate, Nash Nesbitt of Iroquois, the South Dundas Bantam B Rep Lions are organizing a fund-raiser ‘teen dance’ at the Iroquois Legion on Saturday, November 12.
Nesbitt was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphoid tissue, in late August. He is currently undergoing cancer treatment in Ottawa.
“When we found out about Nash, we knew we wanted to do something, and we wanted the kids to be involved,” Lions team manager Rondalyn Jarvis said Friday night at the arena, where the Lions had gathered to launch the dance promotion.
“The support we’ve been getting is unbelievable,” said Jarvis. “People have been calling and wanting to donate.”
“These kids have been together since novice hockey (about 10 years) as well as at school and in other sports,” said Jarvis. “We’ve all been together for so long, it’s a family…this is our hockey family.”
The benefit dance is planned for Saturday, November 12, at the Iroquois Legion. Open to all area youth in grades 7 to 12, it will be chaperoned by the hockey team parents. The cost is $10 per person.
The event has received huge support from South Dundas businesses, organizations and individuals who have donated either money or prizes. Team parents are providing food donations, and the hockey team will be selling pop.
“The Legion has been donated to us, and the DJ has given us a really good deal,” said parent rep Cassandra Barry who is helping with the event organization.
In addition to his hockey teammates, other friends of Nash, are also on board to help out, as are other teams in the South Dundas Hockey Association who have found various ways to help raise money. Members of one team are donating a ‘loonie’ every time they score a goal.
Nash is the son of Tammy Johnston and Earl Nesbitt, and, according to Jarvis, he is doing well. He was preparing to enter grade nine at Seaway when he received the diagnosis.
“His last chemo treatment is November 3, and once his doctors determine its success, they will decided where to go from there. He just received approval to come out in the general public, and if all goes well he could be back in school in about a month. They caught it early, so everyone is very hopeful.”
Jarvis explained that the dance is to help raise money for expenses not covered by insurance.
“The travel and the parking is expensive, and Tammy’s been off work to care for Nash,” said Jarvis. “We want to make it a little easier for them financially.”
To help kick off the Lions’ effort on Friday, longtime family friends, David Lapier and Danny McLaughlin, dropped by the arena to hand over a $250 donation.
“We’ve known Nash’s parents our whole lives, and Nash since he was a baby. This is a tough situation, and we hope all goes well,” said Lapier.
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