Hollister
– For decades, friends have gotten together to play golf as a
social activity, and more than a few business deals have been
cemented on the golf course. One local mom is hoping to use the
drawing power of the green as a means to help a family whose little
boy is battling cancer.
Hollister – For decades, friends have gotten together to play golf as a social activity, and more than a few business deals have been cemented on the golf course. One local mom is hoping to use the drawing power of the green as a means to help a family whose little boy is battling cancer.
“When you hear about a story like this, the first thing you want to do is jump in and help,” Valarie Silva said.
Silva is organizing a golf tournament to benefit 18-month-old Gabriel Fisch and his family.
Many local residents will be familiar with Gabriel’s story; he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that forms in the nerve tissue, earlier in the year. Doctors found one tumor in Gabriel’s adrenal gland, three against his spinal cord and three in his head, none of which were operable, and Stanford physicians estimated that the boy had only a 30 percent chance of survival.
Gabriel is now on the mend and doing much better than doctors anticipated after a roughly six-month battle with his illness, according to a written statement recently released from his family. He still has to undergo some radiation and retinoid therapy, but doctors say he should be “as good as new.” The Fisches’ medical bills, however, are estimated to come to around $700,000.
Silva first heard about Gabriel’s situation through her son, who attends Cerra Vista School with Gabriel’s older brother.
“We don’t know the family personally, but I was very touched by their story,” Silva said.
Silva is extensively involved with the Cerra Vista Parent Teacher Organization and had a hand in organizing several smaller fundraisers throughout the year to benefit the family, but wanted to do more.
Seeing as Silva works at San Juan Oaks, she decided a golf tournament would be the perfect way to drum up some community support for the Fisches.
The event will begin with a shotgun start at 1pm Friday, and following the tournament itself will be a raffle and a barbecue. Already about 20 participants have signed up, but Silva is hoping that at the very least 72 people will participate so that the event will raise at least $4,000 for the Fisch family.
“If we go over that number, of course, we can accommodate them and that would be great,” she said.
A number of community groups and do-gooders have stepped up to help Gabriel over the past few months. The Rancho San Justo Middle School Human Rights Club initiated a donation drive for Gabriel earlier in the year, both at school and in the larger community and collected pop-tops from soda cans to recycle for funds. San Benito High School sophomores Sarah Hutchins and Mayte Mendoza went so far as to organize a rock ‘n’ roll benefit concert that raised nearly $1,500.
Silva is hopeful that her event will be able to make a difference to the Fisch family.
“I have two boys of my own and I can’t imagine what their family is going through,” she said. “When you hear a story like that you always want to hope for the best, and you also want to do something.”
Anyone interested in participating in the tournament or making donations for the raffle can contact Silva at 637-1636.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or
ds****@fr***********.com
.
