Help Aidan Kick Cancer to the Curb

Linda Hamm Potter is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Dawn Murray.

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In September of 2014, Aidan, a third grader living in Sacramento, California, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) that had metastasized to his lungs. After several rounds of chemotherapy, he received a bone transplant (an Allograft) on his left leg, and is currently confined to a wheel chair. Moving forward, he faces additional chemotherapy, lung surgery and several months of rehabilitation to learn to walk again.

An especially bright student challenged by significant developmental delays (similar to Asperger’s), Aidan’s cancer diagnosis overwhelmed an already struggling family.

Although Aidan’s parent are separated, they have come together to support their little boy in every way possible. However, his mother, Dawn, a breast cancer survivor, is only two years out from her own cancer experience and is still dealing with bills from her treatment. Aidan’s medical expenses on top of Dawn’s have put the family in deep financial debt. They are not only facing extensive medical bills; they are also coming up short on everyday expenditures such as groceries, utilities and gas to cover repeated trips to hospitals and doctors.

His parents would also love to be able to offer Aidan the kinds of fun experiences that little boys his age enjoy--trips to the ocean, movies, amusements parks (of course, Disneyland and LEGOLAND are on his wish list—after all he is a very typical little 9-year old boy), but these are too far down on the priority list to be viable options at this point.

Aidan loves reading, computers, construction toys, super heroes and watching his favorite television shows. He is a particularly big fan of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior (ANW) and had an incredible opportunity to attend the taping of the Kansas City trials this spring.

He loves the “Wolf Pack,” a team of Colorado competitors and has forged a special bond with the “Ninja Doc,” Dr. Noah Kaufman. The Ninja Doc and Aidan have become close friends and Aidan proudly displays a large signed photo of Dr. Noah on his bedroom wall. Aidan’s participation in American Ninja Warrior has given him hope and a reason to keep fighting.

According to his mother, Aidan’s trip to the ANW trials in Kansas City “turned a depressed and discouraged little boy into a new child, full of giggles, jokes and enthusiasm.” The wonderful news, she says, is that “Aidan is kicking butt and taking names these days, and responding so well to treatment.” Aidan’s most immediate special wish is to attend the 2015 American Ninja Finals in Las Vegas with his family.