DARLINGTON - The Bunny Hop Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, April 15 in Darlington. The Bunny Hop is being put on by the Dora Ritter Wellness Center and this year the money raised will go to the Wellness Center and Alder Roelli, who was diagnosed with a Wilms Tumor.
Alder, 3, was diagnosed on Feb. 17, 2017. His parents, John and Rhonda and Alder were sent up to Madison when, after being treated for ear infections, the pediatrician noticed his stomach was quite distended and felt something in his abdomen. He was diagnosed that same weekend.
 Wilms Tumor is a type of cancer that in the kidneys. It is the most common type of kidney cancer in children. The tumor Alder has is on his right kidney and is wrapped around it.
“It hasn’t affected any of his kidney function. It’s just that the tumor has grown so its pushing on the rest of his organs in his small, little belly,” Rhonda stated.
Being so young, Alder has not quite grasped the idea of cancer yet. He finished his 6th week of chemotherapy and they are looking into have surgery in the near future. The surgery will remove his right kidney and the mass. That will be followed up with more radiation and chemotherapy.
“They expect treatments to last about a year, depending on how things go,” Rhonda added.
Despite everything he has done really well with all the treatments.
“He has always, since birth, had a laid back personality so he kind of goes with the flow with his two older sisters,” Rhonda mentioned.
His sisters, Marta, 7 and McKenna, 5 are doing better at understanding that their baby brother is sick.
“It’s hard because they don’t fully grasp cancer. When he was having a lot of fevers, in the beginning we would have to go up to Children’s Hospital, sometimes in the middle of the night. I help them get ready for school so everything being out of schedule is difficult.”
But they have received so much support from the community from day one. Sending cards, money, presents and all the support has been overwhelming.
“It’s awesome. People have been amazing. It’s very humbling.”
The 5K Bunny Hop Run/Walk and 1 Mile Run/Walk will be held Saturday, April 15 starting at the Darlington Municipal Building. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The Run/Walk begins at 9:30 a.m. Pre-registration forms are available at the Wellness Center and on their Facebook page, Dora Ritter Wellness Center Darlington.
The pre-registration deadline is April 7 for a guaranteed t-shirt, although people can also register the day of the run/walk.
Cost of registration is $25 for an individual, $40 for a couple and $18 for a child ages 12 and under.
Anyone with questions can contact Amy Prine at 482-0988.