Fighting Cancer 'Not as Hard as Having to Bury My Child'

Like most 7-year-olds, Sean Kerr is into superheroes.

But, his mom, Beth Kerr, of Abington, said this orange-caped kid doesn't need Batman or Superman or any other superhero to aspire to. The first-grader is "Super Sean."

After battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Sean, who spent 1,128 days undergoing chemotherapy, was tasked with raising that amount for this year's Eastern Montgomery County Relay for Life fundraiser, which continues through Saturday at Hatboro-Horsham High School. To date, Sean–with the help of his parents, Beth and John–raised $1,370 for the American Cancer Society.

In all, the Kerrs and the other 19 members that make up their team, Chemo-Palooza, have raised more than $7,500. 

"Sean just finished treatment in April and we wanted to celebrate," Beth Kerr said, adding that a party is in the works and the family hosted a blood drive earlier this month.

The family chose three events to denote Sean's three-year battle with leukemia, she said. 

"In the moment you just go 10 minutes at a time," Mrs. Kerr said of the heartache she felt seeing her son in the battle of his young life. "You do what you have to do to get to the end ... It's not as hard as having to bury my child."

Chemo-Palooza is among the four dozen teams and more than 500 participants in the overnight relay event which involves someone from each team walking–or running–around the track during the 24-hour fundraiser. 

Friday evening, after school Sean, a first-grader at Highland Elementary School in Abington who hasn't quite figured out what cancer is yet, will lead a survivor's lap around the track. 

"I told him he's leading the parade," his mother said. "And he's wearing his cape."

Under cloudy skies Friday morning, participants strolled Hatboro-Horsham's track while a DJ played music, kids played on the turf and teams set up their tents.

According to the event Web site, this year's Relay generated almost $120,000. 

Of that total, Relay Chairwoman Stephanie Sauers-Boyd and her Dresher-based team, Sauers Tree and Landscaping Service raised the most with $10,232. More than $8,000 of the monies came from a bowling fundraiser that Sauers-Boyd organized earlier this year. 

Sauers-Boyd, of Willow Grove, who is expecting a son in October, said she got involved with Relay 13 years ago when her mother, Janice Sauers, was diagnosed with cancer.

The expectant mother said her baby boy will definitely be in tow for next year's event. Right alongside him will be parents, and, of course, his cancer-beating grandmother. 

"They care that much to raise that money for cancer research," Sauers said, gesturing to the throngs of walkers making their way around the track.