LOYSBURG, BEDFORD COUNTY - With balloons in hand, and tears in their eyes, the Northern Bedford community came together to honor the loss of one of their own and wish him a happy birthday.
Leevi Steele was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, but after more than two years of battling the disease, Steele died Wednesday night, mere minutes before his sixth birthday.
"It means a lot to me to see all these people out here for Leevi and I know it would mean a lot to him too," Tanner Russell says.
Russell had a special relationship with Leevi.
After meeting him last year, Russell dedicated his senior project to raising money for the family by putting on a soccer clinic.
"It started out just getting to meet him and playing with him and it turned into a really great friendship," Russell says.
"He was so funny and Tanner and him would just be a riot together and anytime you were around him you knew you would have fun," Brooke Guyer says.
And as close to 200 community members lit candles, sang hymns and prayed...friends and fans of the young boy they called superman...knew Leevi's impact will not be forgotten.
"It's just amazing to see how many lives he's touched, because he has definitely touched mine," Russell says.
Leevi's parents Beth and Davey did not attend the vigil.
The family had just spent 3 weeks in Mexico seeking alternative treatment for Leevi.
Donations are being accepted to help offset medical costs.
Checks can be made out to Beth or Davey Steele and sent to Garry Black at Northern Bedford High School: 152 NBC Drive, Loysburg, PA 16659
Leevi Steele was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, but after more than two years of battling the disease, Steele died Wednesday night, mere minutes before his sixth birthday.
"It means a lot to me to see all these people out here for Leevi and I know it would mean a lot to him too," Tanner Russell says.
Russell had a special relationship with Leevi.
After meeting him last year, Russell dedicated his senior project to raising money for the family by putting on a soccer clinic.
"It started out just getting to meet him and playing with him and it turned into a really great friendship," Russell says.
"He was so funny and Tanner and him would just be a riot together and anytime you were around him you knew you would have fun," Brooke Guyer says.
And as close to 200 community members lit candles, sang hymns and prayed...friends and fans of the young boy they called superman...knew Leevi's impact will not be forgotten.
"It's just amazing to see how many lives he's touched, because he has definitely touched mine," Russell says.
Leevi's parents Beth and Davey did not attend the vigil.
The family had just spent 3 weeks in Mexico seeking alternative treatment for Leevi.
Donations are being accepted to help offset medical costs.
Checks can be made out to Beth or Davey Steele and sent to Garry Black at Northern Bedford High School: 152 NBC Drive, Loysburg, PA 16659
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.