Portia Williams | Daily Times

Community members purchase items at the “Battling for Boston” rummage and bake sale held Friday and Saturday at Cornerstone Church of the Nazarene in Wheelersburg

slideshow

Portia Williams

PDT Staff Writer

WHEELERSBURG - Clothing, furniture, electronics and baked goods were among the different types of merchandise purchased at a rummage and bake sale to benefit the “Battling for Boston” campaign.

Relatives, friends, and community members came out to support the rummage and bake sale held Friday and Saturday at Cornerstone Church of the Nazarene.

Boston Schwamberger, the son of Joe and Ashley Schwamberger, is a three-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor located on his brain stem. Joe employed with a local steel plant, has taken FMLA to help to take care of Boston. While FMLA allows Joe to be with his family, he will not receive any salary during his time off.

Ashley is employed at Portsmouth Spartan Kettlebell Club as a personal trainer and coach in Portsmouth and is the owner/operator of her own business as well.

Farryn Bussa, a cousin to the Schwambergers, coordinated the rummage sale to assist with the family’s medical expenses.

“”We are here today to raise funds to benefit Boston, to help support his family during his journey,”” Bussa said.

Bussa said she did not have a particular monetary goal, but just wanted to raise as much as possible.

“”We’’ve had a lot of support from Cornerstone Church of the Nazarene, which is the church that my husband and I attend, as well as a host of relatives and friends,”” Bussa said.

Bussa said that she has been amazed by the magnitude of support that people have given for the “Battling for Boston” fundraiser.

Ron and Diane Bennett, the maternal grandparents of Boston, said support from everyone has been overwhelming.

“”I think that it has brought the community together. This just shows you how good the people in this area are,”” Diane Bennett said.

Ron Bennett said dealing with their grandson’s prognosis of cancer has been both shocking and humbling.

“”I can’’t begin to tell you how humbled I am over all of this. The support from our family, friends, and community has just been overwhelming,”” Bennet said.

The next fundraiser will be held at the Portsmouth Spartan Kettlebell Club, Saturday, Nov. 10, beginning at 10 a.m. It will include a series of workout competitions, cornhole competition and a host of other activities.

Portia Williams may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 286 or portiawilliams@heartlandpublications.com