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Benefit event supports student undergoing cancer treatment
A benefit dinner followed by live and silent auctions and a dance will be held on Nov. 21 at the VFW hall in Glenns Ferry for cancer victim Mitchell Martell.
Dinner will be served from 6-7 p.m. with silent and live auctions running from 7-9 p.m. The dance is from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Tickets for dinner and the dance are $10 for adults, $5 for teens and children 12 and under will be admitted free.
All adult tickets come with a chance to win a Wii. Along with the auctions, door prizes will be raffled during the evening. For details, call Jose at 366-2548.
Heading into his freshman year of high school, Mitch Martell was looking forward to playing on the Pilot football team. But that dream had to be placed on hold.
Early in the school year, Martell was diagnosed with Burkitts Lymphoma -- a cancer that attacks the blood and, in 1 percent of the cases, spinal column. Martell fell into that one percent group.
Now, instead of practicing on the football field with his teammates, Martell spends several days in the hospital as he undergoes chemotherapy treatments.
An earlier surgery successfully removed two tumors on his spine. Doctors are now keeping track of the growth pattern on a possible tumor near his pelvis, Mrs. JJ Martell said.
Martell is in his fifth round of chemotherapy with another four in his future. Each round requires a five- to six-day hospital stay so doctors can monitor his vitals and perform regular spinal taps.
"He's a strong kid and he knows he's going to beat this," said his mother, Mrs. Martell, when asked about Mitch's spirits.
"We've gotten a lot of support and that really helps us," she added.
The community continues to rally around Martell. Helmets worn by the Pilot football team display a special "Team Mitchell" decal, conceptualized by Kelly Martinez, and the team gave him a signed football.
Last week, Pam Johnson, who spearheaded a "Hats Off For Mitchell Day" effort, delivered 60 hats to Martell. Many of them were decorated by students and business owners.
"It's just to lift his spirits a little bit. Make him laugh," Johnson said.
Students also created huge cards and placed them in the commons area of the school building so students, staff and visitors can sign their names or jot a little note.
Burkitts Lymphoma is an aggressive cancer that requires aggressive treatment but has an 80 percent chance of a cure.
Martell's illness and the family's subsequent move to Boise was hard on the family, but Mrs. Martell believes the experience will strengthen the family.
"It's taught all five of us. It just changes your priorities, that little things are just little things. We'll be stronger for it," she said.
Cards and letters can be mailed to Mitch Martell at 2516 N. Bogus Basin Rd., Boise, ID 83702.