I'm Riding For

Ben Bonneau

This year my ride is more personal than ever as I am riding for my son's friend. A wonderful young man from Bonnyville. This is his story: Ben was off on his own, living with friends in the city, and going to post secondary school. After his 1st year, he started to have health issues which was thought at the time was stress from school. But later the next fall, there was no change and his right eye started not tracking slightly with the left which progressively got worse. After several doctor's appointments and a battery of tests the following winter, misdiagnosis and put on a 3 month waiting list for gamma knife surgery. The team of doctors reviewed his case and MRI to prepare for surgery and found there was more going on then a benign tumour on the 3rd nerve on his right eye. Just 1 month after Ben turned 21 years old, he had a biopsy surgery that confirmed he had metastatic pineal germanoma, A rare form of brain cancer. Ben and his family are thankful and grateful for the village of doctors, nurses, volunteers, family and friends who continue to support them thru this trying time.