It's a beautiful thing to see how a community can come together in support of its residents. This is what's happening for 11 year-old Wyatt Delage as he battles through stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Wyatt was diagnosed with cancer in early December when his parents took him to have a mass on his abdomen examined. After receiving this devastating news, Wyatt's parents were informed that he would require aggressive chemotherapy treatments immediately at Sick Kids for the upcoming six months.
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Although this news is extremely difficult for anyone to process, the Delage family has been fortunate to receive an outpouring of support since. As a member of the Barrie Colts Minor Peewee triple-A team, Wyatt has a large crowd of people missing him while he's gone and anxious to see him win this battle.
His coach, Dave Patriquin, expressed his amazement at how many people have come together to join the support system now being referred to as "Wyatt's Warriors".
A GoFundMe page was started to assist the Delage family as they navigate through this difficult time. As of December 18th, just 8 days since the page was started, over $15 000 has been raised by 183 people.
The Barbell Academy, the gym the Delage family frequents, were also inspired to help out and started a GoFundMe page on behalf of their facility and its members. So far, this page has raised almost $3500.
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Friends, family, teammates, coaches, fellow hockey parents, and even other teams have showed there support in one way or another including donations, fundraisers and simply helping to raise awareness of the cause.
A couple of weeks ago, Wyatt's team went to Sick Kids between games where almost all the boys shaved their heads in support of their teammate and gave him a card filled with heartfelt messages.
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The most inspiring day of my entire life. Minor PeeWee AAA Colts together again.
Wyatt's Warriors is a name quickly spreading through the rinks in Barrie and the surrounding area. Teams across the league have been wearing Wyatt's Warriors stickers on their helmets and t-shirts are being sold at the rinks to help raise money for the Delage family.
Players and families are eager to show they stand beside their fellow hockey brother in his fight. The T-Shirts read: "My Brother's Battle is My Battle. Supporting Wyatt Until He Wins."
The willingness to help out from so many, speaks volumes about the character of the Delages.
The response from the community has been powerful and only continues to grow as so many look forward to the day Wyatt rejoins his parents, siblings, friends and teammates cancer-free.
To visit Wyatt's Go Fund Me page, click here.
To stay up to date with Wyatt's journey, follow the Instagram page @wyatts_warriors.
