Tanner's Troopers to Host Fundraisers for Local Boy

The Oakmont-Verona community and students are coming together to raise money for the medical treatment of a local boy.

Tanner Young, the 4-year-old son of Verner Elementary School teacher Nicole Young and grandson of Riverview High School secretary Sandy Savinda, born pre-mature with cerebral palsey. In October, he also was diagnosed with Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN), which is a fatal disease characterized by an abnormal buildup of iron in certain areas of the brain. 

Tanner will celebrate his 5th birthday on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, and the life expectancy of children with PKAN is 10 years.

Though there is no cure, there is a trial in Oregon that Tanner has been accepted to. At this time, the financial responsibility for the trial is not known. Therefore, Victoria Tibbens, Maeve Hasselman and the Riverview High School Student Council have come together to form Tanner's Troopers and raise money to help  offset the cost of the treatment and Tanner's eventual care.

On Feb. 1, high school students will begin a coin drive. The winning grade will receive a pizza party.

Student Council members also will be selling T-shirts, and all of the proceeds will go toward Tanner's cause.

Tibbens said the group wants to hold a large community fundraising event—sporting event, talent show, dance competition, etc.—but a final decision has yet to be made.

"We want this to be huge," she said. "We want to raise more money with this than we have with any other event."

Anyone with questions or a desire to donate to the cause can contact Tanner's Troopers at tannerstroopers4@gmail.com. 

The Plum-Oakmont Patch will have fundraiser details as they become available.