Community Corner

Fifth-Grader Raises Funds for Brain Cancer Survivor

Andrew Ogle, a student at Villa Cresta Elementary School, is raising money for one of his fellow students, William Snyder, to get a therapy dog.

A fifth-grader at Villa Cresta Elementary School is on a mission to help one of his classmates, a brain cancer survivor, get a service dog.

Andrew Ogle wasted no time in taking up his collection — he knew second-grader William Snyder from school, and when he saw his schoolmate's family on the news talking about getting sponsors and raising funds he knew he had to help.

With nothing but a goal of $100 and old-fashioned determination, Andrew started doing yard work, cleaning houses and cars, and in one case, even doing a demolition job in a basement.

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"I like to help people — I saw this great opportunity to help someone get to a better life," Andrew said.

William Snyder, son of Essex-Middle River Patch editor Ron Snyder, is hoping a service dog will help him lead a more independent life.

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Even after beating brain cancer, the 8-year-old continues to have special needs. He is developmentally delayed, has balance issues and suffers from severe anxiety over seizures.

"With the dog, [William] can get much more opportunity to do things — I decided to help him and basically free him from those obstacles," Andrew said.

So far, Andrew has raised a little over $111 which he plans to present to the family before Christmas.

"I would like to show the students in my school that they should help people more — I don't know may kids who have done something just to help somoene," Andrew said.

"I am just really proud," said Andrew's mother, Beth Dixon.

"When he told us I was blown away for a fifth-grader to think that about a child who was just an acquaintance," William's mother Lori Snyder said. "It was just a phenominal gesture, it was overwhelming to find out he was doing that. He stops in and gives us updates every day."


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