BARBOURSVILLE, WV (WOWK) – A special little girl fighting a challenging disease since birth was lifted up and supported on Sunday by dozens of community members in the Tri-State area.
Hannah Long is 7 years old, and she has refused to allow any obstacle to get in her way.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been outside. It feels really good,” Hannah told 13 News as she stood proudly at the finish line of the second annual “Neutropenia Awareness 5K” in Barboursville, handing out waters to runners who are supporting her in her own fight against Neutropenia, a disease where your body doesn’t produce enough white blood cells.
“As I mother, I’d say this disease is probably one of the hardest to watch your children go through,” Hannah’s mom Stephanie Long said.
“I do my shots by myself, like in my leg. It hurts, but I still do it,” Hannah said.
Stephanie Long said, “You are faced ultimately with this decision of do I treat my child with this medicine (the injections) and in the long run, give her cancer, or do I not treat her and see how far she makes it on her own?”
To many, kids just like Hannah are fighters.
Stephanie Long said, “They just want to be like other kids, and for the most part they are, but in the underlying issues, they really aren’t.”
Joining Hannah in her fight, more than 80 people from across West Virginia and out-of-state came together on Sunday for the annual 5k. That included Hannah’s family members and classmates, and also strangers who only met Hannah for the first time on Sunday.
One of those runners is Sophia Newell, a 10-year-old from Gallipolis, Ohio who’s been training for this race and others for months.
“It makes me feel really happy,” Newell said, “because I’m running for a good cause, and it’s just so fun.”
All proceeds from this event went to the National Neutropenia Network hosted by “O Such Race Planners” to help families facing this disease
“Kids always reach your heart. That’s why we even put her picture on the registration forms, sponsorship forms. How could you not be touched?” Allen Osuch, the owner and co-operator of “O Such Race Planners,” said. O Such Race Planners host 40 races per year to raise money for various charities.
To Hannah and her family, Sunday reminded them of the support a handful of strangers can provide, and the need for more awareness of Neutropenia.
“The more people that we can have say ‘hey, I’ve heard the word neutropenia,’ the more chance that Hannah has at life,” Stephanie Long said.
For more information on Neutropenia and how to donate to families like the Long family, you can find information on the National Neutropenia Network page.
