Milford Teen's Inoperable Brain Tumor Diagnosis Draws National Attention, Fundraisers Planned: UPDATE

MILFORD, CT — The Milford community and beyond is stepping up in a massive way to support one of their own who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.

Organizers of a GoFundMe campaign set a fundraising goal of $100,000 to help Danielle Kemp, 19, a Joseph A. Foran High School graduate and current Division 1 softball player at Stony Brook University in Long Island, and her family pay staggering medical costs.

To date, more than $95,000 has been raised and upcoming fundraisers are planned that will push that number well over $100,000. (See below for dates on the upcoming fundraisers).

For those of you who aren't familiar with Kemp, she got hit in the helmet from a pitch in early July and began to experience balance problems, trouble focusing and dizziness, according to a GoFundMe campaign.

Doctors learned it wasn't a concussion, but an inoperable brain tumor in the Pons region of her brain. She began radiation therapy Aug. 29 and will receive treatment Monday through Friday for six weeks.

"Danni is the toughest young woman we have all ever met, and is more than ready to fight this," wrote GoFundMe organizer Bradley Taylor. "Her strong and indomitable will has already proven to be more than enough to battle and beat a rare kidney disease while she was in high school."

The Fairfield County Sports Commission this week announced that Kemp, who is also a member of the Stratford Brakettes, is the 2016 Chelsea Cohen Courage Award winner, the Milford Mirror reports. She will be honored at an awards dinner 6 p.m. Oct. 17, at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich.

Kemp's story has gone national. Legendary softball player Jennie Finch has used her social media to express support for the Milford teen.

Fundraisers for Danielle

Sunday, Sept. 18 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Hair Forever, 374 New Haven Avenue in Milford will be hosting a cut a thon for donations and also manicures both for donations going directly for the Kemp family. There is currently over $1,200 in restaurant gift cards and lots of great baskets avalible for the DANNI STRONG Raffle.

Please feel free to stop by get a haircut/ mani and support a young lady that has so much strengh and courage.

Friday, Oct. 14: Pasta Dinner at the Foran High School cafeteria from 5-9 p.m.

Check out the full GoFundMe campaign here.

Photo via GoFundMe with permission from Bradley Taylor, campaign organizer.