Syracuse University student gears up for Saturday’s OttoTHON
Syracuse University student gears up for Saturday's OttoTHON
At 8 years old, Andrew Benbenek couldnāt seem to shake his sickness. He was vomiting, getting headaches at the sight of light, and noticing a number of other issues. It had taken a physical toll on his health for over a month.
On Feb. 2, 2000, Benbenek was taken to Upstate University Hospital, now known as Upstate Golisano Childrenās Hospital, where he began his long journey of treatment. Medical professionals told him he had medulloblastoma, more commonly known as brain cancer.
āIt was very dangerous that it was still here at that age because [doctors] think it actually started forming before I was really born,ā Benbenek said. āIt was pretty far developed by the time it was figured out. Itās scary to think about because you donāt hear about kids having cancer.ā
Golisano became Benbenekās home away from home. He stayed there permanently for two months, but he continues to visit to this day. He says he now goes there every year and a half through their adult level care.
At a young age, and right after getting cancer, a neurologist told Benbenek he wasnāt going to be able to do well in college. 18 years later, he attends his dream school at Syracuse, and heās giving back to the hospital that gave him back his life.
Benbenek is on the Hospital and Family Relations Committee for OttoTHON. Last year, he participated for the first time in the schoolās twelve-hour dance marathon to raise money for hospitalized children, but this year heās joined their team.
āI didnāt completely understand what OttoTHON was when I started,ā Benbenek noted. āItās a dance marathon, but itās more than a dance marathon because itās benefitting somewhere right by us. Other THONs have to go hours sometimes to get to their Childrenās Miracle Network.ā
Benbenek said he went last year to have fun among his friends. This year, heās there for the kids. In 2017, he raised the most money in the organization, approximately $2,800, and heās trying to out do himself again.
āI don’t believe you should stop at that goal because there’s never going to be really enough that we can do to help the kids, so I don’t believe I should stop right at a certain number,ā he added.
Heās aiming for $3,000 by tomorrowās event. He described his fundraising as almost a game he plays with himself. When he meets his goal, he raises the amount he wants.
āAs I send my messages and emails for donations, I can really personalize what itās like and what your money is going towards,ā Benbenek explained.
He says the money this year will allow families to share a meal together, but also help renovate the pediatric surgery center.
By helping Golisano, Benbenek says that itās his own way of giving kids a āsecond chance at life.”
