Jacob Shell is only 8 years old but he’s a hero to the Burnt Hills community where he lives, and some might say he gets it from someone who’s an even bigger hero in his eyes, his father.
Last May, Jacob was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. Since then he’s gone through continuous treatment, including strenuous cycles of chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and monoclonal rounds. His mother, an English teacher in the district, took the year off to be by her son’s side and the community rallied to pull of Jacobpalooza to raise money for the family. But it was Jacob’s father, Matthew Shell, who truly knew what his son was going through, as he fought and beat mouth cancer. This triumph is what encouraged Sheryl Lauria to help coordinate the `ShellStrong Stroll,` an overnight walk starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 1, and ending at 7 a.m. Sunday, May 2.
`We wanted to do something that could engage the entire community, from young to old, and we thought bringing everyone together to walk might be a nice idea. The premise behind walking at night is that cancer never sleeps, therefore the time we spend walking overnight sends that message we can fight back,` said Lauria, the event coordinator.
Lauria said her family has known Matthew Shell since he coached their now 24-year-old son during his first year as high school football coach. Now, he coaches their younger son and Lauria said there are many other families who have had similar interactions with the Shell family. And that’s exactly why pulling off a massive fundraiser was relatively smooth sailing.
`We’re a very close knit community and the floodgates have opened; we’re getting registrants every day and there’s still time to register. As a new event we weren’t sure what to expect but we’re hoping to have between 1,000 and 1,500 participants,` said Lauria.
All proceeds will be divvied up between the Shell family, The Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Albany Medical Center, the Giving Tree Foundation which helps Burnt Hills families in crisis and the American Cancer Society. WNYT’s Jessica Layton will MC the night and Jacob’s doctor will be on hand to speak. Jeff Blatnik, a cancer survivor and Olympic gold medalist will be the luminara ceremony speaker and this ceremony is how a fellow Burnt Hills teacher and longtime friend of the Shells is doing her part to help.
`You donate a certain amount of money and it goes toward a luminara, which are bags with candles lit inside them. Typically, you put them along the edge of a roadway or path and it lights your way as you walk. It’s just a beautiful pathway on each side and I wanted to contribute for Jacob,` said Debbie Mahoney, a Spanish teacher at the middle school since 1986.
Mahoney said she tries to do a little here and a little there because every little thing helps. And helping this family means a little something more to her, since she’s known Matthew Shell since the late ’80s when he first came to the district and worked with his wife Kim.
`They’re a special family. Jacob’s dad is such a sweet person and everybody who has been touched by the lives of these people want to do something for this family, whether it’s through prayers, little notes or sending something for this child in the mail,` said Mahoney. `It’s kind of like the Burnt Hills-way, if you will. We’re a big huge family in many ways and we just want to make sure [the Shells] meet with success.`
Mahoney said she keeps up with Caring Bridge notifications which give updates on Jacob’s condition. The last update, she said, warmed her heart because finally, it was good news.
`He’s had this big news where there’s a wonderful improvement. In the last blood they took, they don’t see cancer in his blood anymore. He still has to finish treatments but this is a wonderful sign,` said Mahoney.
To see the community’s unwavering and enormous support can only be summed up in one word, said Matthew Shell: overwhelming.
`It’s great and it never ends. There’s always something people are doing to show their support and usually it’s not just one person but large groups of people that want Jacob to get better and want to see him succeed,` said Matthew Shell. `We’re just real happy and pleased that people want to take the time to help us out. It means a lot and especially that Jacob knows people are behind him.`
He said the meaning behind an overnight walk is a `great idea` and he’s confident it will be a `first class event.`
The ShellStrong Stroll will have food, music and other activities throughout the night. Teams must register to walk but there are other ways to support, like donating funds, sponsoring a team, offering corporate sponsorships, purchasing luminary bags for $10 or donating items for the event. Event forms are available at www.shellstrongstroll.com.
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