Two motorcycle groups aligned to arrange a Ferndale benefit event to support a 3-year-old boy with a lethal form of cancer.
From 4 to 8 p.m. this Saturday, Babe’s Place (2038 Main St.)will serve host to a fund-raiser for Jay Ellis III, a bashful, inquisitive child diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma at 18-months, a type of malignant tumor that stems from soft tissue. The Whatcom County chapters of the Canyon Riders Association and non-profit Bikers Fighting Cancer joined forces upon learning of Jay’s condition and plight and coordinated the charity “Last Wish” event. Attendees will be presented with silent auctions and raffles, where a variety of local products will be available for bid, from gift certificates to jewelry and oil changes to a kayak, said Cheryll Dumont, who helped orchestrate the event on behalf of the Canyon Riders. “The people and businesses of Ferndale have been very generous,” said Bob Neff, northern chapter president of Bikers Fighting Cancer. “The community of Ferndale really overwhelmed me with their desire to help. I’ve never seen a small town pull together like this.” All donations and proceeds from the event will go toward the Ellis family, said Tom Armstrong, local Canyon Riders’ president. The funds are meant to help defray some of the financial strains Jay’s parents are facing from the astronomical costs associated with his care. The biker partnership also hopes the event’s net results might afford the Ellis’ a chance to take a trip and create unforgettable memories with their son.
Of the number of childhood cancers that arise, approximately 3 percent of cases are Rhabdomyosarcomas, according to the American Cancer Institute’s latest study.