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WEST HAVEN -- A 10-year-old student at Quest Academy in West Haven already knows the true meaning of friendship. We gave a High 5 to a classmate who showed he cares.
Cancer can strike anyone - young or old. Ten-year-old Tucker Ricker knows that all too well. In February, after nearly three years in remission, doctors diagnosed Tucker with a relapse of leukemia in his central nervous system.
His father, Justin Dickamore, said, "This popped up very sudden, very unexpected. We're told it's very rare for this to happen."
Instead of going to school with his friends, Tucker found himself back in the hospital undergoing rigorous rounds of chemotherapy. Jaron Tsosie missed his classmate and kept tabs on his friend by following Tucker's blog at tuckerscancer.blogspot.com.
"On his blog he had this thing called Team Tucker where people, if they wanted to they could donate $10. I said I wanted to do more than $10," Jaron said.
His mom gave him the idea to do a fundraiser, and Jaron went to work.
"I sold Tony's pizzas," he explained.
He went door to door and had family help sell pizzas at work. Jaron set out to sell 50 but sold more than double that. He raised $251.50
When Tucker's mom, Amber Dickamore, found out, she wrote on the blog, "I broke into tears."
He's got a very big heart. He's very kind and considerate to others.
–Karen Kirkham
"(Not only ) to have Jaron do this, but just to have the whole school support us. They've done their own fundraiser, too. He has the most amazing teacher, Mrs. Shipman, who has just gone above and beyond. I'm not surprised that all of her students would go above and beyond on their own."
Jaron's aunt, Karen Kirkman, nominated him for a High 5. "He's got a very big heart. He's very kind and considerate to others," she said.
Tucker made a special visit to the school just to thank Jaron. "I never really had a friend like him," Tucker said.
Justin told us, "His capacity for giving is just absolutely amazing."
Karen added, "We can learn from younger kids on how to help others and not be selfish and give of our time and our hearts."
For Jaron's selfless service, he received some goodies from our High 5 partners at Les Schwab.
If you know someone who deserves a High 5, click here.
