Community Remembers 9-Year-Old At Basketball Game
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A community was able to give the family a check for $5,000 to help pay back medical bills. That was hardly the story however at a fundraiser to help remember Tucker Helstrom, a 9-year-old boy who loved sports and left us way too soon.
They played a basketball game Saturday, for a purpose. The jerseys say Tucker's Ballers, and in the stands are the family of Tucker.
They lost him just over a month ago to bone cancer at the age of nine.
"The hardest part for me through the whole eight month journey was we got the news on November 4 and we were on our way to a Gustavus soccer game for my daughter," said Lisa Leininger, Tucker's aunt. "It was devastating."
He battled it for eight months with family and friends forming his own team.
"Every video or photo update was – it's difficult. No child should have to go through that," said Tucker's aunt Sara O'Rourke.
He fought and supported those that helped him, even into the final few days of his young life.
"We said these are the last days or weeks that we had. It ended up being three days," said O'Rourke. "We took him to the baseball field, that's where he wanted to be. He wanted to cheer on his sister Casey in the championship game."
And even in death, he taught lessons to the many people he touched.
"A thousand people showed up to his celebration and 700 to his funeral and it was all orange. People are good," Leininger said. "We came home from stepping out the day he died. The entire street was lined with Luminara. A neighbor lady had set it up, 150 Luminara, and we were just bawling."
Saturday they were reminded again of how much people care -- of how much of an impact Tucker made while he was here.
"He stopped bullies on the playground. Other kids were drawn to him," said O'Rourke. "His impact on the community in nine-and-a-half years makes days like this happen."
The kid that loved and played sports set an example. The people who have helped since his death have reminded an entire family of the spirit of the human heart.
"I've learned that even though we definitely want our Tucker back, we have learned the amazing outpouring of support and love and how he reached so far and wide, this little guy," Leininger said.
