When people hear about a child going through a tough time, they want to help. Especially if a child is going through cancer. Around the world, around 14 million people are reported to have had cancer as of 2012, and WCRF.org thinks that number could grow. Sometimes patients need a little encouragement to get through it all and former WWE wrestlers and current talent among others wanted to help.
A little boy from Massachusetts named Danny Nickerson has one simple request for his 6th birthday. He wants birthday cards. Danny was diagnosed last October with having an inoperable brain tumor called DIPG, formally known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Sadly, there is no cure for it. His story made the pages of The Sun Chronicle and quickly landed on the front page, along with landing on his home paper, the Foxboro Reporter , and went viral on the Internet.
Carley Nickerson, Danny’s mother, said that they were very surprised with the story getting so much attention.
“We didn’t expect to be on the front page. We had no idea. We were so excited.”
Since the story made waves online, they family has had news stations from across the country calling to hear about Danny’s request. Currently, they have received about 375 cards and 15 packages filled with little gifts like stickers and puzzles.
When the Nickersons went to the post office to check their box, the load of gifts and cards were so overwhelming that they had three big bins of mail waiting for them according to the Sun Chronicle.
“We never thought it would be this big. It’s very crazy. It all started with the paper.”
Former WWE Wrestlers Goldberg, Ric Flair, Edge, and even former Divas such as Christie Hemme, Victoria, and Candice Michelle heard about the story. WWE has been known to be a major force in helping children through the Make-A-Wish foundation as well as becoming partners with cancer organizations such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer research among other places. WWE’s philanthropy work is very much a known fact, but the cool part is that the talent in the WWE both former and current all care about people who go through these things.
Thus, when these WWE superstars heard about Danny, they wanted to send him a giant card with signatures from legends and current stars alike. Bill Goldberg, a former World Champion in WWE, said that if Danny ever needs anything to call him directly and he’s got it.
The video below shows that even tough guys have a heart.
Danny is from Foxboro, Mass. but he has support from around the country and around the world. The family has been getting Facebook messages on their page called “Danny’s Warriors” from people in Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Austria, and more all asking where they can send cards. The fight will continue for young Danny, but it will do so with encouragement from the WWE, Baseball Players, and normal people just like you and I.
If you’d like to help with giving to the family, you can donate to them here.
Their goal was $15,000 to help with medical expenses. So far, they have raised over $18,000 and could always use more with the expenses it takes.
More over, if you want to send a birthday card for Danny to open on his birthday, this Friday, you can do so at the address below:
Danny Nickerson, P.O. Box 212, Foxboro, MA 02035.
Happy early birthday, Danny!