By NICK YAMASHITA
The Progress
A young boy and his family got to experience the support of the Moapa Valley community on Saturday, June 27.
Lucas Aivaz, a 5-year-old who is fighting Neuroblastoma, was able to meet new people and make new friends at the Live Like Lucas fundraiser event held at Lin’s parking lot in Overton to help Lucas’ family to pay his medical bills and other expenses.The fundraiser went on through the morning from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. when the wind picked up.
Lucas Aivaz is the son of Jason and Seana Aivaz of Henderson. But Lucas’s grandparents, the Garbers, live in Logandale. According to grandmother Melanie Garber, Lucas has also been diagnosed with autism.
“Lucas was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma when he was four, approximately a year and a half ago” Garber said. “The medical costs alone have been outrageous, even with insurance.”
Garber explained that Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops from immature nerve cells that are found in several areas in the body. This cancer is almost always in children ages 0-14 and occurs around certain glands like the adrenals.
“Lucas has been doing amazing!” Garber said on Saturday. “He is getting out of the hospital today and his last round of tests were clear!”
The fundraiser was unique as it featured racks upon racks of LuLaRoe clothing, including dresses and leggings. All of the LuLaRoe was left over from Seana Aivaz’ side business or from donations from friends and family. All clothing items were $5 each. In addition, Crumbl Cookies and drinks were sold.
The event brought in a total of approximately $5600, including cash donations.
The money raised will help pay off some of the medical costs including travels to UCLA Medical Center for treatments, two bone marrow transplants, and once a month spending four days in the Summerlin Hospital Medical Center.
Lucas spends a lot of his free time in Logandale visiting his grandparents as well as two sets of aunts and uncles who reside in the Moapa Valley.
“Lucas loves anything with wheels!” said Lucas’ father Jason Aivaz. “Cars, tractors and more.”
Lucas’s aunt Marsha Garber described more of his favorites. “He also loves the sound of sirens, cheese pizza and chicken nuggets,” she said. “We go through bags upon bags of chicken nuggets.”
Near the end of the fundraiser, Jason and Seana Aivaz arrived with Lucas, fresh from the hospital and excited to see everything going on.
“We are so grateful for everything!” said Jason. “Everyone out here in the valley has been wonderful. We have had people walk up and just give us $100 donations and tell us to keep it and good luck. We must thank the community so much as well as, most importantly, Lin’s for allowing us to hold this fundraiser here. We also would love to thank the Valley Heights neighbors that gave so much time and money in helping us with this fundraiser and others. Thank you so much!”
If interested in helping Lucas in his fight against Neuroblastoma, send funds via Venmo to @vegasrebs or by GoFundMe at www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-the-aivaz-family.
