The Star Valley community is once again showing support when needed after a local 12-year-old boy was diagnosed with cancer. Family, friends and strangers have participated in fundraisers and even volunteered to help keep the doors open at his mother’s business. 

Ryker Dana, the son of Kaylonie Hathaway and Greg Dana, started having headaches roughly six months ago, which continued to get progressively worse. Imaging done recently showed a massive cancerous tumor. Since that time Ryker has undergone two surgeries. His first chemotherapy treatment will start July 27 and will continue for six weeks. 

“Ryker has been a rockstar through all of this and never complains,” said Kaylonie on social media. “He feels pretty good for the most part.”

A Facebook auction group titled “Rally around Ryker” was created to raise money. Community members donate and bid on items such as locally baked goods, services and more. Bidding in the auction ends on Tuesday, July 14. The auction can be found by searching for Rally around Ryker on Facebook or by clicking here.

A car wash fundraiser was also held recently, organized by members of the Star Valley Little League and Ryker’s baseball team. 

A gun raffle is ongoing, with multiple firearms including an AR-15 and a Taurus USA, GX2. Tickets are $5/each and can be purchased through August 7 via Venmo to @charlotte-Parsons-5. In addition, local hair dressers are volunteering to work at Kaylonie’s salon, The Cutting Edge located in Afton, so she can keep her doors open while dedicating her time and attention to Ryker and his treatments. 100% of the revenue from the salon will go to Kaylonie so she can continue to pay her expenses, with extra donations going towards Ryker’s medical expenses.