A young man battling eye cancer received a surprise visit over the Canada Day long weekend by a car club and motorcycle club in Quesnel.
Over 50 vehicles from the Prospector’s Car Club and the Dangerous Curves Motorbike Club drove by and filled the dead-end roads near Kellen Harper-Frederiko’s house, with well wishes, toys to give to Kellen, and chances for him to sit in and on cars and bikes.
“He had no idea, he thought we were outside to watch foxes,” says Kellen’s mum, Ember Harper Frederiko.
“My grandpa was the one leading the car club, and then everyone just started filing down the road. I couldn’t believe the amount that turned out. He was so excited.”
Kellen has been battling a non-genetic form of eye cancer since March. Ember says the family has had to be selective about going out to community events while Kellen goes through chemo and treatments. Making surprise visits like this has a big impact on Kellen.
Ember adds that Kellen hasn’t ‘slowed down’ at all since his diagnosis. Even after procedures and treatments, he runs and plays, and often has to be reminded to take time and rest.
“ Honestly, he’s dealing with this better than I think that any adult ever could, which is insane. I don’t quite understand how a 4-year-old can be, so strong.”
Like most four-year-old boys, Kellen has become a car, truck, and motorbike enthusiast. Him and his parents spent that afternoon walking up and down the road. Any vehicle that had Kellen’s interest spark, he didn’t hesitate to ask if he could jump in.
Members of the car and bike clubs let him honk their horns, pretend to go on trips, and even let him ignite the vehicles’ engines. Ember mentions there was one motorbike with a particularily loud horn, that Kellen simply loved to bits.
“ It was so cool to see that many people that would like take time out of their day to show up to like brighten his day. I just couldn’t believe how willing people were to just — make him happy.”
Ember, her husband, and Kellen thank everyone that came out, and let Kellen inspect their rides. The Harper-Frederiko’s thank everyone in the community, and are still in awe and have no words on how to express their gratitude.
“ When you go through like the diagnosis and all the procedures and everything, and you feel like you’re so alone throughout it,” says Ember Harper-Frederiko.
“But then honestly, this and every other little bit of support that we’ve received through the community has just been mind blowing. We never thought that we would have so many people reach out to us with kind words and offers to help in any way they can. It’s been incredible to realize that you don’t actually have to go through this stuff all by yourself, because there’s people out there that get it.”
As for Kellen, while he continues his battle, Ember says her young man hasn’t stopped talking about his surprise visit even once.
–Files by Teryn Midzain, My Cariboo Now
Something going on in the Nechako Valley area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
