Hollis boy with leukemia chosen as Walk Hero by Dana-Farber institute

Friday, September 3, 2010

Submitted photo Nathan Etchells, with his father, Mike, and mother, Michelle, stands with the Boston Red Sox World Series trophies in the Player's Club at Fenway during the Hero Match Party for the Jimmy Fund Walk.

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Submitted photo Nathan Etchells and his brother, Aaron, play a game of basketball in their backyard on the court Nathan asked the Make-A-Wish Foundation for. Nathan was diagnosed last fall with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

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Submitted photo Nathan Etchells will participate in this year's Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk as a Walk Hero. He's pictured here with the leader of the team with which he was matched, Gary Bastarache, left, and Bastarache's nephew Derek, both of Team EMC.

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Submitted photo Make-A-Wish Foundation grantors Wendy, left, and Sarah, stand with Nathan Etchells on the newly installed basketball court in his backyard. Etchells was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia last fall and this summer, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted him his wish.

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Submitted photo Nathan Etchells, with his father, Mike, and mother, Michelle, stands with the Boston Red Sox World Series trophies in the Player's Club at Fenway during the Hero Match Party for the Jimmy Fund Walk.

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HOLLIS – It’s been a whirlwind year for 12-year-old Nathan Etchells.

Last October, Nathan, then 11, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, forcing him to hang up his baseball cleats and hat mid-season in exchange for an extended stay in the hospital. Within a week, Nathan’s community embraced him and his family, raising more than $20,000 to help the family pay medical bills that were sure to start flooding in.

This fall, after fighting his cancer with everything he’s got, Nathan has been bestowed the honor of being a Walk Hero in the 22nd annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk on Sept. 12.

Oh, and recently, the Make-A-Wish Foundation installed a basketball court, complete with two fenced-in hoops, at the family’s house.

“It’s awesome,” he said of his wish come true.

While being treated for his leukemia at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Nathan was approached and asked if he wanted to be a Walk Hero.

“He was thrilled about it,” said Nathan’s mother Michelle Etchells. “He was excited.”

The Hero program pairs up Dana-Farber Cancer Institute patients with a walk team in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. This adds some extra motivation for the walkers when they have a face to associate with the cause they are walking for.

“It is so important that people keep donating to this cause,” Michelle Etchells said. “There is so much more research to be done.”

The eldest of Michelle and Mike Etchells three sons – brothers are Aaron, 10, and Austin, 8 – Nathan said if he could give advice to kids battling cancer, he would tell them to “wash your hands a lot and try not to get sick.”

“Stay strong,” he added. “Take your medicine.”

With the Jimmy Fund being an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Walk Heroes and their Walk Team were introduced and enjoyed an extra-innings Red Sox win over the Texas Rangers in Fenway Park on July 17.

“It was really nice meeting the people walking in his honor,” Michelle Etchells said.

Gary Bastarache, 46, of Bellingham, Mass., is the team leader for the group paired with Nathan. This will be Bastarache’s 21st walk and he will be walking along side his daughter Samantha, 15.

Bastarache has been in communication with the Etchellses, and he and his daughter attended a cookout with the family in Hollis last weekend.

“It was a beautiful day and we all had a lot of fun,” he said.

Bastarache walks every year to do what he can to raise money and awareness to help beat cancer.

“I have had family and friends that have beaten cancer,” he said. “And some that have lost their battle to cancer.”

According to a press release from the Jimmy Fund, there will be an estimated 8,000 participants walking the 26.2 miles to raise money for cancer care and research through the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“I hope they raise a lot of money for cancer research,” Nathan said.

“Even though he is battling leukemia, it is not stopping his passion for playing baseball and basketball,” Bastarache said.

This is only the second year that Bastarache’s team, Team EMC, has been involved in the Hero program but he said that he has made lifelong friends with the people with whom he walks.

“The people that have to live and battle cancer are the true heroes,” he said. “Especially the kids.”

Nathan played on the Hollis/Brookline All Star Baseball team during this summer and describes himself as “athletic, funny and popular,” and has big plans to be a Major League Baseball player like his favorite, Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox.

“He’s very strong willed,” his mother said. “He’s been fighting this whole thing and hasn’t given up.”

To support the Etchellses, Bastarache and the rest of the team, visit www.jimmyfundwalk.org/2010/teamemc2010.

For more information, to support a walker or register to walk, visit www.jimmyfundwalk.org or call 1-866-JF-1-WALK.