Skip to main content

Chester County Press

Event raises $8,000 for youngster's care

02/11/2020 11:25AM ● By Richard Gaw

By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

More than 60 friends, family local residents – and 30 participants – attended “Lift for Leukemia” at Anchor life + fitness on Feb. 8, which raised $8,000 to help defray the medical costs of two-and-a-half year-old Benny Pin, who was diagnosed with  B Cell-Lymphoblastic, a form of leukemia, on Nov. 21.

Each participant entered in a half-day challenge to test their strength in bench pressing and dead-lifting.

On Nov. 17, 2019, Kelly and Dan Pin of Kennett Square discovered that their two-and-a-half-year-old son Benjamin had a high fever and severe abdominal pains, and took him to the emergency room at the A.I. Children's Hospital in Wilmington, where their son was admitted the following day. 

Commonly known as B-Cell ALL, it is an aggressive type of leukemia that occurs when too many B-cell immature white blood cells are found in the bone marrow and blood. The overall prognosis for Benny is very good -- about 98 percent of children with B-Cell ALL go into remission within weeks after starting treatment and 90 percent of them can be cured.

The fundraiser adds to money being raised at a GoFundMe account created by Benny’s aunt Colleen Fida in late November, which has to date raised more than $28,000.

During their remarks, the Pins expressed their thanks to those who attended the event.

“This new way of life has been an utter devastating shock, but it also lends a new perspective that is refreshing,” Kelly said at the event. “Our family lives differently, allowing ourselves to be more in the present, whether the moment presents itself as good or bad. The small and simple things that were once taken for granted are actually the 'big things' that matter most, and this journey has taught us that.

“You have blessed us not only with the resources needed to care for Ben, but also with a warmth and feeling of community that is so unique to Kennett. Thank you for your help in making Benny strong!”

“When we look back at the last few months, it is really hard to describe everything that has happened. It has been a blur that has seemed both incredibly fast and incredibly slow,” Dan said. “Every week has brought different news and updates, and even though we feel so well cared for at A.I. DuPont, we never really know what to expect.

“I recently told a close friend that I feel like we've been riding a wild roller coaster, but no one remembered to buckle us in. What has really blown us away is that at every dip, turn, and loop of that coaster, someone has been there to push us back in our seats and keep us going.”

To learn more about Benny Pin, visit www.caringbridges.org/visit/benjaminpin or #BennyStrong. To make a contribution, visit  www.gofundme.com/f/help-benny-battle-leukemia

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].