Living with leukemia is not an easy thing to do, and it could be even more challenging for a young child. Understanding the process, accepting it and living with it can be scary to a child, especially one as young as first grade. It takes bravery, strength, and a little help from others.

Crispin Few is a first grader at W.S. Neal Elementary School, and he is currently in a fight against leukemia. He is not attending school as his treatments have pulled him out of the classroom. His strength and courage every day to fight such a devastating sickness at such a young age is admirable. With everything it takes and as strong as he has been, support from the community still goes a long way.

Crispin’s mom, Meka, is thankful for everything that the community is doing to help and for standing by Crispin’s side in such a tough time.

“It means the world to us to have so much support from our community,” Meka said. “With all that goes on in the world today and being from a small town that still helps one another. The encouraging words and the prayers that have went up for Crispin is greatly appreciated. We have been blessed by not only the community but all of Escambia County, and even outside of Escambia County.”

The actions being taken to support Crispin is truly beautiful, and everything is a factor in his fight.

WSNES and Few’s classmates are doing their part, participating in “Pennies for Patients,” a program that raises money to help fund research and care for leukemia patients. The school is holding a kickoff event on Jan. 3, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. in the gym to get the fundraiser information out. The fundraiser begins Jan. 8, 2018 and runs until Jan. 26.

Few’s teacher, Brenda Taylor, is doing her part to keep Few involved in the classroom activities and classmates through a program called “Monkey in My Chair.” This program provides the classroom with a stuffed monkey that takes Few’s place in his absence. With the monkey is a book to help Taylor explain to Few’s classmates what he is going through and how it affects them. Each child is also given online access to “Monkey Message.” This component allows for the children to share pictures and documents with Few.

Taylor welcomed the idea to help in the fight.

“Crispin is an important person in my class,” Taylor said. “The monkey goes everywhere with us just like Crispin would if he could come to school. I only wish the best for him.”

May Creek United Methodist Church is holding a fundraising event on Sat., Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. The church welcomes everyone to take part in an event that will have music, vendors, food, desserts, a slide, games, a raffle and a bike ride all to support Few and his family’s fight.

The bike ride is $20 a bike, and $10 for each additional rider. Registration for the bike ride is at 1:30  p.m., and kick stands go up at 2:30 p.m.

The raffle tickets are currently on sale for three for six dollars and the drawing will be held at the event.

They are also accepting cakes, cupcakes, cookies, drinks and monetary donations.