Poker run to benefit family of child recovering from rare eye cancer
A poker run will be held on Sunday, Oct. 3, for a young boy who was diagnosed with childhood eye cancer.
Candice Ballard said her son, Blake, who is now 20 months old, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare childhood eye cancer in June when he was 17 months old.
Retinoblastoma is a cancer that forms from immature retinal cells in one or both eyes of children from birth to 5 years of age. If the cancer is found early, it can be curable.
After the Ballards made their last trip to Philadelphia earlier this week for treatment, the doctor gave them news that Blake’s tumor is dead. The chemotherapy that was given to Blake during an earlier visit reduced the tumor by approximately 90-95 percent.
A fund-raiser “Bikin’ For Blake,” which Randy Bell organized, will be held at the Fort Myers Harley Davidson dealership.
Registration for the poker run will be held from 10:30 a.m. until noon at the dealership on Sunday. The entry fee is $15 per bike and $5 for any additional passenger.
All the money received from the poker run will go towards the Ballard family to help them pay for medical bills and traveling costs.
Those who participate in the poker run will draw a card at Harley Davidson and then four additional cards at various stops throughout the run. The last stop will be at Victory Lane in North Fort Myers. The winner of the poker run will be the individual with the best hand.
The event will also have door prizes, a 50/50 drawing and music by Colton James Entertainment.
The winning hand will be announced at 2:30 p.m.
For those who wish to follow Blake’s progress visit www.nothinglikeachildsluv.wordpress.com.
For information about “Bikin’ For Blake,” call Randy Bell at 239-691-4505.