No one fights alone
Summerside man completes 639 push-ups to support young boy battling cancer
SUMMERSIDE – One man has completed 639 push-ups and raised $13,200 (and counting) for a Summerside family struggling with a devestating diagnosis.
Former professional hockey player and owner of Hustle Athletic Training Inc., Aaron Dawson, had onlookers counting Saturday afternoon as he began one-hour of push-ups in a bid to raise funds for Camden Kingyens.
Camden was diagnosed over the Christmas holidays with an aggressive form of brain cancer that came as a “devastating shock” to his family.
The three-year-old recently had a sepsis scare, but the lifethreatening infection cleared his blood and the family is now hoping for no more setbacks.
“The sepsis resulted in two more surgeries, one to externalize his shunt (to remove excess fluid) and the other to remove his central line (for chemotherapy treatments) and a new line was added,” said Victoria Sara Kingyens, who has watched dozens of doctors in Halifax prod, poke, and pump her son up with medications while he lies helplessly in bed.
“Camden has one more week until cycle two of chemotherapy starts, but he will need an MRI scan to evaluate the status of his cancer. We are hopeful that the chemotherapy is working, and the tumours are shrinking,” added Kingyens, who gave up full-time work to be with her son.
Aaron Dawson, owner of Hustle Athletic Training Inc., completed 639 push-ups and raised $13,200 (and counting) for the Summerside family that has been left in a state of shock since the cancer diagnosis of their son over Christmas.
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Dawson is one of many Summerside residents who have been rallying around the family since learning of Camden's illness.
Kingyens said, “Our family is blown away by the support of our community and people like Aaron (Dawson) at Hustle, who have huge hearts and give so much of themselves.
“We are deeply grateful for everyone supporting Camden and our family.”
Pam Rodgerson came to show her support at the fundraiser at the gym over the weekend.
“Victoria and her husband, Matthew, have a phenomenal impact on the community. I have known them for a long time, and I was a secretary at Three Oaks Senior High School, so that’s where we met, and our children became friends. I’m also here to support Aaron and his fund, but more importantly, just praying for the Kingyens and hoping for a great future,” she said.
After chemotherapy at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Camden will attend the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto to finish his treatments.
“This is a long process and Camden’s cancer is aggressive. The treatment will take us into the summer, and even then when it is done, I will live in Halifax for two months as he attends regular checkups at the IWK,” said Kingyens.
The Kingyens family said they are thankful for all the support.
“We want to send another huge thank you to Aaron, Lindsay, and all the Hustle family. You’re all incredible and we will never be able to fully express how much we appreciate you all.”
To learn more visit, Facebook.com/HustleAthleticPEI.