Photo : N.J. boy battling cancer dies days after enjoying surprise hero-themed parade
N.J. boy battling cancer dies days after enjoying surprise hero-themed parade : A 9-year-old boy battling cancer has died days after first responders in Jersey City threw him a surprise hero-themed parade, the police officer who organized the event confirmed.
A 9-year-old boy battling cancer has died days after first responders in Jersey City threw him a surprise hero-themed parade, the police officer who organized the event confirmed.
Fourth grader Parth Patel was diagnosed in 2014 with Ewing Sarcoma, a form of cancer that typically occurs in areas around the bones in children and young adults. In recent weeks, Parth hasn’t been able to attend full days of school because of his illness.
Jersey City Police Officer Adrien Murrell had heard about Parth’s battle with cancer, and having lost her brother to a terminal illness, wanted to do something special for the 9-year-old.
So on Wednesday, more than 100 police officers, firefighters, and EMTs held a hero-themed surprise parade from Parth’s Nelson Avenue home down North Street to School 27.
Parth’s classmates cheered him on during the event. The Marty Lyons Foundation held a pizza party in the school’s auditorium after the parade, where Parth was presented a key to Jersey City by Mayor Steve Fulop.
Journal staff writer Caitlin Mota contributed to this report.
Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
