SHERBURNE – Aces for Adams, a benefit to raise money to support a young boy diagnosed with childhood cancer, will kick off at 1:30 p.m. April 28 at the newly renovated Fox Run on Route 12B, north of the Village of Sherburne. The event has been organized by Karli Harris, a senior at SUNY Oneonta, as part of a school project.
Last October, four-year-old Adam Frontera, the great-grandson of former Town of Sherburne supervisor Harry Conley, was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer difficult to recognize due to its vague symptoms. Shortly afterwards, Frontera was admitted to a specialty hospital in Boston, undergoing invasive surgery in December to remove an adrenal gland tumor. Scheduled to undergo a stem cell transplant in mid-March, cancer was discovered in Frontera’s bone marrow and the operation had to be delayed. Currently ending his seventh round of chemotherapy, the four-year-old is set to receive the potentially lifesaving transplant within the next couple of weeks.
On top of coping with the painful experience of watching their child undergo cancer treatments, Adam’s parents have had to struggle with the finical strains associated with the process. When Harris heard about the Fronteras situation, she decided to dedicate her school project to helping them out.
“It’s been a lot more then I expected,” said Karli. “I didn’t know the family too well, but we have gotten a lot closer and I have learned a lot from the experience.”
While Frontera will most likely still be laid up in the hospital during the fundraiser, organizers are hoping he will feel well enough to Skype so that attendees will get a chance to see him.
“He is very inspirational,” said Harris. “I am not even sure he understands what he is going through but ... he is always happy no matter what he is going through, he will be sitting in a hospital bed and have a smile on his face. And he is just the cutest little thing I have ever seen in my life.”
“He is such a little trooper,” Harris’ mother Shelly Harris chimed in. “Hopefully he will have the stem cell soon and be cured.”
Sherburne singer, Katie Stewart, along with The Horn Dogs, from Syracuse, will be performing the day of the benefit, and a kids corner will be equipped with face painting, temporary tattoos, a balloon animal artist and a craft table where the youngsters will be encouraged to make Frontera a get well card.
A silent auction will be held, as will a Chinese Auction and 50/50 raffle. T-shirts sporting the logo “Aces for Adam” will also be available for purchase.
“I can’t even thank any of the places that have donated enough,” said Karli. “It has restored my faith in humanity and what is good in the world.”
For more information or to make a donation, go to facebook.com/AcesForAdam, or call 316-1281.