'Amazed by him every day': 9-year-old launches nonprofit to raise awareness for pediatric cancer
Walker asked his dad if they could do something to help find a cure and provide care to families. They started "Kids Join The Fight."
Walker asked his dad if they could do something to help find a cure and provide care to families. They started "Kids Join The Fight."
Walker asked his dad if they could do something to help find a cure and provide care to families. They started "Kids Join The Fight."
Walker Beery is your ordinary 9-year-old kid. He loves sports and playing with his friends and family.
But two years ago, Walker's life changed. He was diagnosed with brain cancer.
"I was personally really scared," Walker said.
The news left his parents shaken.
"We were completely blown away two years ago, when Walker was diagnosed, by the support of the community," his father, Taylor Beery, said.
They've taken Walker around the country to see specialists. Most recently, he was part of a clinical trial in Birmingham. They're fighting, and at 9 years old, so is Walker.
"He has maintained a great attitude and smiled through some really terrible stretches of time," Taylor said.
On their journey, the Beerys realized that only 4%of federal government cancer research funding goes to pediatric cancer.
"I was shocked," Taylor said.
Walker asked his dad if they could do something to help find a cure and provide care to families. They started "Kids Join The Fight."
"I started it because I didn't want kids to have such a hard time as me going through cancer," Walker said.
The idea has caught fire and is now an official nonprofit.
Kids from across New Orleans are posting about it on social media. Then it grew, with people seeing what their friends are posting on social media, they also joined in from coast to coast, New York to California.
"We are amazed by him everyday and whatever credit there is in this fight, it's because of him and we're just following his lead," Taylor said.
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and his wife recently co-hosted a fundraiser at a resort in Idaho to raise money for Walker's cause.
"We were touched how people reached out when Walker got sick and that is even more so as people have grabbed onto this mission," Taylor said.
Walker has no intention of giving up. He plans to beat cancer and help others along the way.
"I think it's amazing, I think we should keep doing it," Walker said.
So far, the nonprofit has raised $200,000. Their goal for year one is $1 million.