Hike fights child cancer
Wesley Zablocki of Butler was almost 12 when he died March 3 after a four-year struggle with osteosarcoma, a cancer affecting the bones.
In his memory, his father, Ted Zablocki, will accompany three of his son's closest friends — Jacob Campbell, Mike Davis and Amber Kozik, all 12 — on a trip that they think would have made Wesley proud.
They will go on the Ultimate Hike hosted by CureSearch for Children's Cancer, a Maryland-based nonprofit that dedicates its fundraising efforts to pediatric cancer research.
Each summer, the organization hosts the hike at four sites in the region. The Dolly Sods hike goes through 20.7 miles of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia on Aug. 1.
They will head there because it is the closest location to Pennsylvania.
Wesley's parents and friends created the Wesley's Warriors team and set their fundraising goal at $25,000. Now in the home stretch, they have already nearly doubled that goal.
Wesley's mother, Nikki Zablocki of Butler, said the team may break a record for the Dolly Sods location. She said they're hoping to hit $50,000.
The team's latest fundraiser on July 11 produced $8,000 from the Wesley Zablocki Memorial Ride, making total donations $44,558. More than 100 motorcycle enthusiasts rode a 100-mile tribute circuit, ending at the East Butler Fire Hall.
At the fire hall, riders and supporters enjoyed food, games and prize drawings. T-shirts with the memorial's logo were sold and donations were accepted.
Josh Campbell, 39, of Butler helped organize the memorial ride. He is Jacob Campbell's father.
Josh Campbell said the ride had good support from the community from volunteers.“I'm excited about how much money we were able to raise,” he said.Josh Campbell said the weather was perfect for the riders, and he plans to have the event around the same time next year with hopes that the weather will be similar. He said next year will be even better.“It is going to become a yearly event,” he said. “Next year, I want to at least reach 250 (riders) though.”Nikki Zablocki said their final fundraiser is a volleyball tournament Saturday.She added that money also sometimes trickles in through the CureSearch website as well.Donations may be made directly on the website, benefiting the team in general or adding to the total of an individual, which goes toward the team. Each member of the team has his own page, including a biography describing why he is participating.Nikki Zablocki said the family chose CureSearch because it focuses on pediatric cancer research. She also likes the organization's transparency.“We can actually see where our money is going and what it's being used for,” she said.She said the organization sends her updates whenever it distributes the money.Wesley's father said he looks forward to completing this hike among like-minded people, most of whom have felt the impact of cancer in some way.Ted Zablocki said he went on the hike two years ago, but he missed last year's hike. He said Wesley was never able to hike, but it was one of Wesley's goals to attend the event.While waiting for his chance to go on the hike, Wesley wanted to help raise money.Ted Zablocki said his son asked him about fundraising last year. He told his son that there were more important things to focus on at the time.
Ted Zablocki said Wesley told him it was important to help give other children the support they needed to fight the disease too.“Even though he was fighting, he was for helping the other kids,” he said.Ted Zablocki said he is considering doing something special to honor Wesley on the hike and thinks his three young fellow hikers will want to be part of it.The three youngsters — Campbell, Davis and Kozik — had been friends of Wesley since before the first grade.“They've been friends for a long time,” Zablocki said. “They'd do everything together.”They all went to Summit Township Elementary School and Mike, Jacob and Wesley belonged to the same sports teams and scout troop. They all were friends before and during Wesley's four years of treatment.They smile when they talk about their memories with Wesley.Jacob said he remembers late-night movies, playing games and inside jokes about a funny incident at the mall. He said he wants to keep raising more money for CureSearch so other children don't have to lose their friends to cancer.“We have been calling people to donate,” he said.Mike said he remembers asking his mother to buy root beer when Wesley would visit so he and Wesley could make root beer floats.He said they will not stop helping until time is up, and that the minimum goal isn't enough.“It's better to do more than to do less,” Mike said.Amber said she will always remember the inside jokes she and Wesley shared.“We were always laughing in and out of school. Wesley always knew how to put a smile on my face,” she said.The group always slowed its speed when hiking to Wesley's pace, and they helped support him when his legs began to hurt.They also helped with as many fundraisers as they were able, and they continue to support him by backing what he believed in.Jacob and Mike still belong to Troop 39, and they'll earn their hiking merit badge through this year's hike. It will be the boys' first time at the hike.With the fundraising nearly complete, they can focus on training for the hike.Mike said they are preparing with smaller hikes and increase the distance each time. Jacob said they bought or made new gear, such as shoes, walking sticks and other items.All three said they think the hike will be exhausting but worth the effort, and it will mean more than the merit badges at the end.“I'm not only hiking in honor of Wesley, but also for every child that gets diagnosed,” Amber said.“It's a good way to remember him,” Mike said.“It'll be good because he's gonna be with us,” Jacob said.
