A benefit for Blaine
Blaine Newman, a 10-year-old from Rathdrum, is battling cancer. The 32nd annual Shalena’s Breakfast with Santa fundraiser at the Hauser Lake fire station on Sunday will benefit Blaine and his family. (Courtesy photo)
HAUSER — Blaine Newman has the makings to be an engineer.
But the 10-year-old Rathdrum boy's latest building block has been trying to overcome a cancer called Burkitt lymphoma.
"He had a lump on his neck last summer and at first we thought that it was due to a sinus infection," said Amie Newman, Blaine's mother. "But a biopsy revealed it was actually an aggressive cancer."
Blaine, who started chemotherapy in early September and finished his last treatment Monday, will benefit from the 32nd annual Shalena's Breakfast with Santa fundraiser sponsored by the Hauser Lake Fire Department on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"I was astounded that they would pick us," said Amie, adding that she's hoping she, Blaine and his 15-year-old sister Kendra can attend the breakfast. "I'm very grateful for this. Hopefully next year we can support other people in need."
Amie said Blaine loves to build things.
"He wants to change things all the time," she said. "He's also very active and loves to run and ride bikes."
Amie said Blaine is on the road to recovery with his cancer and she's hoping he's finished with chemo.
"The lump has gone away, and he's been a strong little boy to go through all of this," she said. "(Medical staff) is pretty confident the treatment has taken care of it."
The suggested donation at the breakfast at the fire station, 10728 N. Hauser Lake Road, is $3 per person or $10 per family. Raffle tickets are $1. The breakfast includes sausage, biscuits and gravy, eggs, pancakes, waffles, coffee and juice. Santa will be available for photos and to accept kids' wish lists.
To get to the fire station heading west on Highway 53, turn right on Hauser Lake Road just past Pleasant View Road. The station will be nearly 2 miles from that point.
The breakfast fundraiser helps families who have a child with cancer. It’s held in remembrance of Shalena Mobbs, who lost her battle with cancer and is the daughter of Hauser Lake Fire Capt. Gary Mobbs and Tracie Payment.
Mobbs said Shalena was in seven different hospitals and the experience was a huge emotional and financial drain. He said the fundraiser is intended to give families in similar situations a lift and is a way many in the community can help during the season of giving.
"Unfortunately, we lost Shalena, but look at what she has done for many families," Mobbs said.