James Habeck Fundraiser success

BELLE FOURCHE Sundays Team James fundraiser for 3-year-old James Habeck of Belle Fourche was a success. There was a huge outpouring from the community, with 300-400 people in attendance, event coordinator Danielle Butler said.

The fundraiser, held at the Belle Fourche Moose Lodge, raised money to help the Habecks travel to Panama to treat James cerebral palsy. A successful treatment outcome will revive parts of his brain with new cell life from an umbilical cord stem cell procedure that is not offered in the United States. The procedure has a reported 70 to 80 percent success rate.

The Habecks needed $20,000 for James treatment and traveling expenses. When she found out enough money had been raised to support the trip, Melissa Habeck, James mother said, I just cant believe that it is even possible. Im so thankful! How do you even thank people for doing that for your child?

Scott Jones, chief of police for the Belle Fourche Police Department, and Belle Fourche Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kip Marshall, donated time and their bodies to help raise funds. A dollar bought a piece of tape to tape them to a wall. Eventually there was enough tape purchased to suspend them above the ground. The departments were competing to see who could earn the most for young James.

The combined efforts of the departments yielded $400, with both forces pulling in equal amounts of money.

Local companies and individuals donated products, time, and financially, as well. The Naja Shriners clowns were on hand to entertain children. A cotton candy making machine was donated, and face painting was available.

Once again, Melissa asked, When people are so supportive, how do you thank them? Its pretty amazing how people can be so supportive financially and emotionally.

James only turned 3 in February. During his short life he has taken several different medications to try and resolve the muscle spasms his body tolerates as a result of cerebral palsy. Medical professionals have done all they can do for him, and they say the spasms dont cause him pain, but they make him cry, so it is difficult for Melissa to believe when James muscles become tight and distorted, that James is not feeling pain.

A number of people in the region have high hopes for James and will be following his process. Melissa said other local parents have children that might also benefit from the procedure James will undergo.

None of this has been an easy road for the Habeck family. James father, Jim, is a truck driver in North Dakota, and Melissa said he has traveled back the seven hours from his job, jumped in a vehicle with her and James, and headed to Minnesota for medical appointments for James many times. Melissa said their four other children are taken care of by other families when the medical trips are taken.

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James Habeck Fundraiser success