Young Royals fan stricken with cancer invited to World Series by MLB
A good deed by a friendly neighbor has developed into a heart-warming story wrapped in kindness and generosity.
Ryan Zimmerman, a freelance writer from Olathe, Kansas, launched an online campaign on Thursday to raise money to send his neighbor, six-year-old Noah Wilson, to the World Series. Zimmerman thought it would be nice to send Noah, who is battling Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that grows in bones and soft tissue around bones, and his family to a game so they could take in the experience and cheer on his favorite team from the stands.
By Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Zimmerman’s campaign launched online, they had already raised $10,000, which doubled Zimmerman’s original request and is more than enough money to achieve their goal. However, it turns out that money can actually go to better use now, because the ticket service StubHub and Major League Baseball both heard Wilson’s story and immediately offered to help.
First, Zimmerman posted an update that StubHub had donated six tickets to World Series Game 2 for Wilson’s family.
Just minutes later, MLB’s Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations Joe Torre upped the ante.
Noah will be at the hospital receiving treatment when Game 1 takes place on Tuesday. It is now confirmed, however, that the Wilson family will be attending Wednesday’s Game 2.
“We’re overwhelmed with appreciation,” Scott Wilson said from the hospital on Friday before he was even aware of StubHub or MLB’s offers. “I keep telling people I don’t have enough words to say thank you.”
I think most will agree the smile on Noah’s face come Wednesday night will be all that’s needed.
As for the money that’s been raised, Zimmerman says that will go towards Noah’s hospital bills.
According to Noah’s father, he’s about halfway through cancer treatment at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, with 14 more weeks of chemotherapy left.
“So far he’s been responding well to it,” Wilson said. “The tumor hasn’t spread. It’s gotten smaller so we’re moving forward with high hopes.”
Here’s hoping a visit to Kauffman Stadium raises their spirits even higher.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
