Over $45K Raised For Family Of Wayne Boy Fighting Cancer

WAYNE, NJ — Classmates and friends of a Wayne 12-year-old battling cancer have organized ways to support his family, and community members have raised thousands of dollars for his treatment.

Nolan Peña, a seventh-grade student at Anthony Wayne Middle School, was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The cancer diagnosis shocked the family, who say 12-year-old Nolan “ has his head high and has never once doubted that he will beat this.”

A GoFundMe for his parents Nolan and Jeannie, and his family, has raised more than $44,700 as of Wednesday.

Nolan has six siblings, and family members said they struggled with coming to terms with his diagnosis. Hodgkin’s lymphoma starts in the body’s white blood cells and affects the immune system, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Nolan had gone to the doctor after discovering a lump in his armpit that was “growing at a rapid rate,” family said. The family expected him to undergo a routine procedure to get it removed. Instead, doctors found swollen lymph nodes there, and below his clavicle and chest muscle. A PET scan also revealed “a small activity of lymphoma cancer cells” in his spleen and backbone.

“The energetic, funny, sweet, loving boy that we all love to be around is internally fighting the greatest battle of his life to an extent that no one could understand,” the family wrote in the online fundraiser.

“Even throughout the process of finding out that he has cancer, Nolan has still kept a strong and optimistic mindset.”

The diagnosis has transformed the Peña-Guzman family’s lives and brought a number of medical bills. Specifically, the family needs financial support with out-of-pocket medical and prediction expenses, travel expenses, plasma shots, and the unknowns of the future, the fundraiser said.

“Please support Nolan so we can give him the best opportunity for treatment, recovery, and a happy, healthy life just as every child deserves,” his cousin London Mcknight and family wrote on the page.

Classmates have also been organizing ways to help Nolan and his family. Fellow seventh-graders Julian Sabbagh and Alex Ablaschai designed bracelets, which they sold at a fundraising walk on March 12 in Nolan’s name and at a recent Wayne Hills Student Dance Association performance.

Julian and Alex’s mothers, Melissa Sabbagh and Michele Ablaschai, told Patch their sons have raised $1,737 so far for their friend and his family.

“We couldn’t be more proud of their efforts,” Melissa and Michele said.

The boys will be selling the bracelets again at the Wayne Valley SDA performances on April 27 through the 29, their mothers said — this will be their third and final sale.

The walk-a-thon fundraising numbers were not immediately available; the event was organized by a Wayne Valley HS student. Nolan’s father, also named Nolan Peña, thanked the Wayne community and all the family, friends, students, neighbors, and coworkers who supported his son and the family at the walk.

Nolan’s parents also expressed their appreciation to the more than 600 people who have contributed on GoFundMe.

“We cannot thank you enough for all of your support! We are taken aback by all the love, well wishes, prayers, and support that we have received so far. You are all making such a difference in this journey for Nolan, no matter how small!”

One of Nolan’s siblings, Ryan, is a 2022 Wayne Valley HS graduate and now is a student-athlete at Ramapo College, where he runs cross-country according to the college website.