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Sabres help answer dream of young cancer patient

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Updated Nov 7, 2009 10:30 PM ET
     
 
When 11-year-old Jessica Stone saw the gift baskets being auctioned at her fundraiser, one of them caught her eye: a set of tickets to a Buffalo Sabres game. But Jessica can't attend the game next week. She is scheduled to undergo chemotherapy by then for Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects children. One phone call later, Jessica not only had tickets to an earlier Sabres game, she also had a stretch limo picking her up in Niagara Falls to take her to the team's Friday practice. There, she met players Ryan Miller and Derek Roy and mascot Sabretooth for autographs and pictures. "She thought it was so cool," said Jessica's mother, Kristin Perrier. "Her face lit up like a candle she was so excited. It was like a dream. She's never been to a game -- she's only watched it on TV." Jessica took two friends along for the ride and they all got a tour of the locker room and watched the team practice -- all in all, a pretty "awesome" day, Jessica said. "I really liked meeting the players and going into the locker room," Jessica said. "I never did something like that before -- that's my first time watching actual Hockey." Jessica brought some of the signed items back to be auctioned as part of her fundraiser Friday night. But she had plenty of help already -- family and staff from 79th Street Elementary School, where Jessica is a sixth-grader, donated more than 250 baskets. The money will help cover the cost of at least six months of chemotherapy. The cancer has spread throughout her body and Jessica recently started treatment after being diagnosed at the beginning of the school year. "Jessica has been at 79th Street since she was in kindergarten," said Pupil Services Assistant Karen Cassert. "Everybody that knows her here said we have to do something. Since we started setting up this fundraiser, Jessica has been here the whole way through, smiling and thankful. She is the type of little girl, it's not going to get her down." Perrier said she and her daughter have been "overwhelmed" by the community's support. The Niagara Falls School District has set Jessica up with a laptop so she can watch classes from home while she's being treated. Jessica was frustrated at first, her mom said -- she didn't want pity and just wanted to get better. But Jessica is staying positive and is grateful for the support. "It's really great that they do this stuff for me," Jessica said. "Other children, I see what they've been through and I like to see them get help. It's nice that they want to help me." Donations can be sent to The Jessica Stone Benefit, care of Karen Cassert at 79th Street Elementary, 551 79th Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. e-mail: niagaranews@buffnews.com
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