Youngest fighter aims to win lymphoma battle

The past few months have been the hardest ones of Baily Bennett's life. Just four years old, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in April.

Sunday, surrounded by 50 relatives and friends known as Baily's Angels, he took part in a 5K walk to benefit the Lymphoma Research Foundation as the youngest survivor of the disease.

The team, in bright green shirts with his name on them, joined Baily and his family for the Sixth Annual Seattle Lymphomathon at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle.

"Getting the chance to walk with everyone for a cause that means everything to us was awesome," said his mother, Heather Bennett.

Despite gray skies and a down economy, about 125 people participated and raised $25,000 for the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

"We recognize the economy is tough on people," said Marion Swan, the foundation's national public-relations manager. "We really appreciate everyone who came out and everything they've raised."

The nation's largest volunteer health organization for lymphoma has contributed a total $37 million for research funding, Swan said. It also funds programs and services for patients, survivors and loved ones.

About 75,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with lymphatic cancers each year, and more than 500,000 are living with lymphoma.

In May, after a month of intensive chemotherapy, Baily's tumor had shrunk and his family celebrated his fourth birthday. He toured a Tacoma Fire Station and rode in a fire engine.

But on June 25, as the family was heading to Crescent Bar in Central Washington for a vacation, Baily went back into the hospital with a fever. His tumor had grown again and he had pneumonia.

He's on a new round of intensive chemotherapy and is doing well, though he will likely need a stem-cell transplant in the coming months, Heather Bennett said.

"During this whole ordeal, Baily has been a trouper," she said. "He says that he will never leave us and that he will get better."

Like the past four months, Sunday's walk was "a whirlwind and emotional roller-coaster ride," his mother said.

Baily was very tired from the medicine and stayed in his stroller for most of the walk, she said. By the end, though, he was so hungry all he could talk about was chicken nuggets.

"Coming across the finish line was really amazing, there were so many people cheering Baily on."

It's a cause that has become central to their lives. "We have been touched by cancer," she said, "but are punching back as hard as we can."

Kristi Heim: 206-464-2718 or kheim@seattletimes.com