WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsPreview: Light the Night Walk takes place Thursday

Preview: Light the Night Walk takes place Thursday

Chippewa Falls (WQOW) - The efforts of a 5th grader will be celebrated this week at a big event in Chippewa Falls.

For the past few years, an Eleva-Strum student has been shaving his head to raise money to fight childhood cancer. This week, he and his family will be honored heroes at the annual Light the Night Walk.

Jadyn admits he's not letting his hair grow as long this year, but his mission is still the same: to help others.

"He has a big heart for people. He tends to put people before himself," says Kerry Wright-Jensen, Jadyn's mother.

A few years ago, he teamed up with his Grandpa Jim Jensen. They shaved their heads for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, which is considered the world's biggest volunteer-driven fundraiser to fight childhood cancer. That effort took on added meaning when, about two weeks after he shaved his head, Jadyn learned that Grandpa Jim had been diagnosed with Leukemia. What had been Jadyn's mission, now became the family's.

"I was my father's donor," says Kerry.

Kerry donated her bone marrow and stem cells. The stem cell procedure was one of four like it, performed in the world, and the transplant was a success.

"My cells, fighting cells went in and ate everything out. They were making jokes about how they weren't going to let me leave the hospital."

Her cells were strong, and the cancer seemed to be in remission.

"They did kill off everything they needed to and were rebuilding in him but the Leukemia before all this hovered into the lung."

And what followed were the words no family ever wants to hear, the cancer had returned. Jim was given several weeks to live. His courageous fight ended in April when he passed away.

This week, as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society prepares to honor the family, Kerry wants people to know how important an event like the Light the Night Walk is.

"The transplant worked. There are so many people out there who don't realize that raising money will help with transplants too. It's an important thing."

Another reason why Jadyn continues to raise money, selling candy bars and growing his hair in memory of his grandfather, is to help others affected by cancer.

"A lot of people say to me, 'Kerry, I think he was put on this Earth to do what he's doing' and I believe it too."

The Light the Night Walk, which raises money to help those who are battling blood cancers, will be held Thursday night at the Irvine Park Zoo in Chippewa Falls. Check-in starts at 5:00 p.m. with the walk beginning at 7:00 p.m.

The Jensen family will be honored along with Marc Small and his family. Marc is a survivor of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 

News 18's Jerry Gallagher will emcee the event.