When little five-year-old Nolan Hancock was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumor on June 18, his family turned to God for healing and to our community for support. Just days after Nolan’s diagnosis, online donations have contributed over $17,000 and counting for Nolan’s medical fund and over $1,500 was raised through a fundraiser hosted by the North Florida Shooters and Elite basketball teams.

The community support doesn’t end there. Local businesses have set up donation buckets for Nolan and a First Federal Bank of Florida account for donations has been established under “Nolan Hancock.” Donations of any size can be made at any First Federal branch or online through GiveForward by going to www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/w279/nolan-hancock-s-medical-fund.

If you are unable to donate, prayers and positivity are much appreciated by the family. There is also a Facebook page under Nolan Hancock that you can “like” to follow his progress.

Nolan’s specific diagnosis is diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and it affects about 100-150 children per year in the United States and about 300 per year in all of North America and Europe, according to dipgregistry.org. 

“This is a very rare and aggressive brain tumor which is located on the brain stem,” Nolan’s aunt, Nikki Jackson, said. “It is extremely difficult to treat and only a few hospitals around the country are able to treat it.”

Nolan may have to travel to hospitals as far away as Atlanta, Boston, North Carolina, Texas or California, and treatment programs can cost upwards of $55,000 and are not typically covered by insurance.

“The ultimate decision will be made after researching and deciding on which program seems to offer the most promising treatment options,” Nikki said.

Nolan wants his parents, Trey and Kasey Hancock, and his older brother, Maddox, at his side every step of the way and his parents will be unable to work during this time. The family faces medical, travel, lodging and personal expenses.

Nolan’s grandparents are Rhonda and Richard Hancock and Terry and Debbie Mixon. Terry said he can’t thank the community enough for the love and prayers they have already given his grandson and his family.

“Nolan’s touched the hearts of this community,” Terry said. “We are a family of faith and we trust in the Lord for healing. We’ve got the doctor’s report, but we’re waiting on God’s report because He is first and foremost in our lives.”

The basketball fundraiser on Tuesday, June 23, was the first of many more fundraisers to come. North Florida Shooters manager Candice Davis explained folks could donate by participating in the shootout competition, purchasing food or entering into a raffle for items donated by Lowe’s of Live Oak and L&J Gas and Diesel. Standalone donations were accepted as well.

North Florida Shooters head coach Kalvin Starling organized the event as soon as he heard the news of Nolan’s diagnosis. He was Nolan’s soccer coach with Suwannee Parks and Recreation, and the boy quickly became Kalvin’s “little buddy.”

“It was my first year of coaching soccer and he was the shortest kid out there,” Kalvin recalled. “I built a relationship with him and his family, and it’s been a blessing to get to know such great people.”

Kalvin realized the mental and financial burden the Hancock family was facing, and said he just wanted to show them that the community cares.

“We just want to be a blessing to them,” he said. “We want to show that as a small community we can come together, no matter what race, gender, size or shape, and care about a human life.”