Ayden & Poppy: Two Generations Tackling Cancer

Proceeds of Items sold in this auction will directly benefit the Pfitzenmeyer and Miller families as Ayden battles Acute Myeloid Leukemia and his grandfather Willie battles Lung Cancer.

Ayden Miller was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on August 2, 2020. His community has rallied around him and his family as he immediately began the fight for his life. What many people don’t know is that his grandfather, whom he calls Poppy but the rest of us know as Willie Pfitzenmeyer, was diagnosed with lung cancer two days prior.

Although they were diagnosed two days apart, Ayden has already conquered two rounds of chemo like the CHAMPION he is!  Willie’s course of treatment begins October 1, 2020 so we are fundraising to support both of them as play the long game in this battle against leukemia and lung cancer.

Willie has led a life of service donating his time as a football coach to area youth.  Ayden has taken on his Poppy’s loves of football and giving back. They share an amazing outlook: neither has asked “why me?" They both just want the game plan so they can give it their all.  

To know Willie is to love him- just ask any friend, family member or player of his.  He treats us all the same, and is a source of strength for every single one of us.  He usually shies away from attention, but he is willing to share his story in the name of doing everything he can to garner support for his grandson, Ayden.

Ayden shares many wonderful attributes with his Poppy: hardworking, humble, strong, and a healthy sense of humor.  While they share the same outlook, Ayden is a bit more vocal so we would like to share a few of his responses to the challenges AML has brought:

Ayden on Clinical Trials:  It'll help other kids?  Ooh yeah, let's do that, I like helping others!

Ayden on losing his hair: On the bright side... no haircuts!  &   It'll grow back, that's what hair does!

Ayden on spending his 11th birthday in the hospital: That's okay, ya know what?  I bet other kids have to spend their birthday in the hospital too.

Ayden upon learning friends and family have donated:  WOW.  I'm really loved, aren't I?  It's cool to know I have a lot of people supporting me.

Ayden telling his best friend he was diagnosed with AML:  Hey!  Do you have any friends with cancer?... NOW ya do!

Ayden during his virtual class for school:

             Classmate: I got a new pair of glasses this summer!

              Ayden:  That's nice!  I got cancer this summer!

A portion of Superhero Scramble Virtual 5K proceeds will be donated to The B+ Foundation ®.  The remaining 5K proceeds and ALL silent auction winning bid donations will go to Ayden and his Poppy as they tackle cancer together.