Superheroes descended on Sherwood Park Monday night to lend their healing powers to a 10-year-old boy coping with a rare form of brain cancer.
About 500 people joined a fundraiser for Zachary Murri, who has been diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an aggressive tumour on the stem of the brain.
Friends, family and family dogs showed up at the benefit walk, wearing colours to match Zach’s favourite superhero, Captain America. One of his supporters even came dressed as Batman.
Zach’s former babysitter, Celine Wylie, organized the fundraiser and stood up in front of the crowd.
“I’d like to say that we’ve raised $7,500 tonight,” Wylie said to cheers.
The money is to help the family through the tough time, she said.
Disheartening diagnosis
Zach was diagnosed in May and given only weeks to live.
The neurosurgeon told the family why Zach had been vomiting and getting headaches.
“He told us, ‘Your son’s not going to grow up,’ ” said Zach’s father, Daniel Murri.
“To hear that as a father … it’s devastating.”
Zach was immediately put through a six-week intensive radiation treatment. He made some progress, then more symptoms developed.
Zach lost hearing in one of his ears, developed double vision and now has difficulty walking.
Sick Kids Canada says about 30 children in Canada are diagnosed with the brain tumour every year.
“It’s like winning the lottery … but a really crappy one,” his father said.
Ninety-five per cent of children diagnosed with DIPG don’t live more than two years.
The Murri family (from left) Kirsten, father Daniel, Brooklin, baby Cameron and mom Jaime Morais-Murri, with Zachary in front. (Anna Desmarais/CBC)
Wylie began organizing the fundraiser after hearing about Zach’s diagnosis. She enlisted the help of her employer, the CBI Health Centre, and a number of local sponsors.
“We just want to take the financial strain off the family,” Wylie said.
“He’s a strong-willed boy … our own superhero.”
Zach has a long list of hobbies, including building Lego, playing basketball and hockey, and turning Nerf guns on his friends or his older sisters.
A supporter signs a ‘Get Well Soon’ card for Zachary. (Anna Desmarais/CBC)
The family believes there could be a cure for Zach.
They’ve found a treatment in New York that injects the brain with liquid radiation to target the tumour at its source. Each injection costs $15,000.
‘Making the most of the time we have’
Murri said his family can’t afford it, so he and Zach’s mom Jaime Morais-Murri are taking time off work to spend more time as a family.
“There’s no guarantee that one injection will work,” Daniel said. “So we’re making the most of the time we have.
“We just love him so much, we’re praying for a miracle.”
Zach is one of four children in the Murri family. He has two older sisters — Kirsten, 14, and Brooklin, 12 — and a baby brother, Cameron.
Daniel Murri is hoping to take his son to Oilers games and concerts while he still can. With the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the family is going to Disney World in September.
Zach hopes he can meet cartoon chipmunk characters Chip ‘n Dale while he’s there.
“I chose Florida because I’ve never gone before,” Zach said.