A Hoover boy dealing with cancer for the second time in his young life is getting an outpouring of support from the community.
Eight-year-old Tucker Beam was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in February and has been undergoing chemotherapy since then. Today, his elementary school is honoring and supporting him with Tucker Beam day.
About 750 students at South Shades Crest Elementary spent took turns walking the track today all to raise money for Beam. The second-grader has cancer and is passing the time in the hospital with his mother as he undergoes chemotherapy.
His teacher said his classmates miss him and came up with the idea of Tucker Beam day to support their friend.
“They'll say he's such a brave boy. They understand the seriousness, so they admire him for his courage,” said Tucker’s teacher Galey Thomas.
Scott Elgin said Tucker is his very best friend.
“He has cancer,” Elgin said. “I don't know how he got it; he was born with it. He's just a real nice kid and fun to play with.”
This is Tucker's second bout with cancer and he knows the treatments will keep him out of school for much of next year as well. But he considers the students at South Shades Crest family.
“They really love me and are trying to support me and really want to help me,” Beam said.
The goal was to raise about $10K, but they already have $13K and they say when it’s all said and done, they expect to have about $20K for Tucker and his family.
Tucker's mom said the amount of support they've received from the school and community is overwhelming. Organizers are hoping that beyond the financial help, their efforts will give Tucker a morale boost to keep up the fight.
“He has a serious cancer, but he's fighting; he's a fighter,” teacher Carrie Pomeroy said.
“He's fought cancer once before and we believe he's gonna fight it again this time.”
And he has plenty of shoulders to lean on along the way.
This is Tucker's first year at South Shades Crest, and he's only been back for a few days at a time since his diagnosis in February. But Tucker's mom said the community and school have adopted them and it feels like they've lived in the community all their lives.
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As of 4 p.m. Friday, about $27,000 had been raised for Tucker.
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