Vikings 3rd-grader diagnosed with leukemia – how you can help
By Kevin Spradlin
PiedmontPostNC.com
If the first 24 hours are any indication, the online campaign to raise funds for Northern Guilford Elementary School third-grader Ashton Bates will reach its goal by the end of April. Ashton’s journey back to health, though, is just beginning.
Approximately two weeks ago. Ashton was taken to Brenner’s Childrens Hospital in Winston-Salem and diagnosed with AML Leukemia. Within the past 10 days, he started undergoing chemotherapy.
“The doctors recently updated us that Ashton’s bone marrow is not producing healthy cells, so after 4-5 more weeks at Brenner’s, he will be transferred to Duke in Durham, where he will receive radiation treatment and then a bone marrow transplant,” wrote Ashton’s uncle, Clinton Bates. “Ashton has a long road to recovery ahead of him.”
Clinton Bates began the online GoFundMe campaign on March 30. Family and friends have helped to raise $2,475 in a single day. The goal is to raise $50,000.
“The costs of Ashton’s hospital stay, treatments, time out of work by his parents, bills and overall care will be a burden on the family, so we are asking for your help during this difficult time,” Bates wrote. “We are grateful and humbled by the overwhelming support of so many already in the community and we we want to say ‘thank you’.”
Ashton is no stranger to the community. An active student-athlete, he plays football for the Northern Nighthawks, “where he has a true passion for the sport,” his uncle shared. “Ashton also plays for the (Summerfield Recreation Association) baseball league … since he was about 4 years old, and Ashton’s dad coaches his baseball team.”
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