Sat, Nov 21 2009
|
|
Published October 24, 2009 10:33 pm - “Bayanihan” — it’s a Filipino term that describes the culture’s spirit. “It’s just like in a football game, like a big crowd rallying behind you,” Joy Leaming, of Lebanon, said. “It explains the team spirit of Filipinos.” About 75 people were an exhibit of bayanihan Saturday morning as they rallied for 5-year-old Mikayla Bassett, a Webb City girl who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in July. Family friends organized a 5-kilometer walk at Landreth Park to benefit Mikayla, who is preparing for a bone-marrow transplant next month. Community turns out for benefit to help with girls bone-marrow transplant By Emily Younker
eyounker@joplinglobe.com “Bayanihan” — it’s a Filipino term that describes the culture’s spirit. “It’s just like in a football game, like a big crowd rallying behind you,” Joy Leaming, of Lebanon, said. “It explains the team spirit of Filipinos.” About 75 people were an exhibit of bayanihan Saturday morning as they rallied for 5-year-old Mikayla Bassett, a Webb City girl who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in July. Family friends organized a 5-kilometer walk at Landreth Park to benefit Mikayla, who is preparing for a bone-marrow transplant next month. Leaming said the Filipino community — Mikayla is half-Filipino — is like a family in the way they support each other. “That’s the Filipino spirit,” she said. “But I guess that’s not just the Filipino spirit, it’s humanity. You want to show support in any way.” Leaming said she made the two-hour drive to Joplin on Saturday morning to offer emotional, spiritual and financial support for the Bassett family. “This has been really personal to me, too, because I have a boy the same age as Mikayla,” Leaming said. “It kind of hits home.” For Sen Marteja, of Joplin, it was no surprise that the event attracted so many members of the Filipino community. “When you’re a friend, we treat you as family,” Marteja, who has known the Bassetts for about five years, said of her culture. Grace Aquino, of Joplin, said that is particularly true in times of trouble. “You can see that we Filipinos, we unite each other,” she said. Michael Bassett, Mikayla’s father, came to the benefit Saturday along with his grandparents and several of his aunts, uncles and cousins. The rest of the Bassett family, including Mikayla, was at home in Webb City. Because of Mikayla’s upcoming transplant, which is scheduled for Nov. 10, she is confined to the house, as is her younger brother Malachi, who is her donor, Bassett said. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Local News section
Some Briarbrook residents want tax district to save golf course, country club ‘Journey Stories’ set pace at exhibit in Miami Public Library MSSU board slates retreat for February Neosho city manager admits use of airport loan to pay city bills |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
: Special Offer For New Subscribers :
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
