❤️ Help Liam Fight Leukemia

Co-organized

Garance Nienhuis and Anneke StAngelo are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Chika Atkinson.

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We started this GoFundMe to help out Atkinson Family.

Chika and Derek's oldest child, Liam, was recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Because of his age, it is labeled “high risk” (children younger than 10 have better number of survival rate) and most likely his treatment will last as least 2 years. They have two children: Liam who is 14 years old and Leila who is 9 years old.

Liam was diagnosed with Leukemia on January 10th when they took him to ER at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. He stayed in ICU for a couple of days receiving blood transfusions, getting tests done. It was then that he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, “ALL”, (the most common type of leukemia for children).

He is a shy and quiet boy, and he is a really good brother to Leila. He sometimes gives her a piggy back ride when she is too tired walking or just trying to have fun together, and he knows how to comfort her when she is crying. Despite gender/age difference, they are very close and they always enjoy something so silly/funny together, and Leila has looked up to him since she was little.

Liam is in 8th grade at Portsmouth middle school and is musically talented playing the violin and the French horn. He made RI All-state band/orchestra with both instruments this year. Liam was placed the first as a French horn player. (He was so excited to perform… Everyone is still hoping that he can participate… rehearsals and concert are later in March)

He was also selected into RIMEA invitational honors band and orchestra past 2 years. (RIMEA = RI Music Education Association) Besides his school band, string ensemble and jazz band, he is a member of RI philharmonic youth orchestra, RI philharmonic youth wind ensemble, Bristol community string project youth orchestra, east bay summer youth ensemble.

Outside of music, he is just like other boys who love playing the video games with friends.

Please help them fight this challenge. Anything can help. And if you can’t help, please share. Cancer can happen in any family, at any time. This family needs your help.

All of the donations raised here will go straight to The Atkinson Family to help them pay for Liam's hospital and treatment expenses. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.