Jennifer Andersson Reporting
jandersson@clarksvillenow.com
You may not know them as the Fighting 501st. You may not know them as the 501st Legion, or “Vader’s Fist”. But they are always known as the Star Wars people, and you probably know you see them working at charity fundraisers. That’s because they are also known as “bad guys doing good.”
They will be doing what they do best, raising money for charity this Saturday from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. in the Food Court at Governor’s Square Mall in Clarksville.
The 501st Legion Mid-South Garrison will be hosting a charity meet and greet, where guests can use their personal cameras to get photos with the Star Wars characters for a $5 minimum donation to Dreams and Wishes of Tennessee.
The organization grants a second wish to individuals between the ages of 5-21 who have relapsed from cancer or have a second life-threatening illness diagnosis.
Dreams and Wishes opened in March 2013, said Tanya Sturm, the organization’s director. To help raise money, Sturm called upon volunteers of the 501st Legion to carry out the first mission.
“We are a 100% volunteer-based organization and rely on donations and the volunteers to help make Dreams & Wishes come true,” she said.
The money raised Saturday will go toward granting 16-year-old Benjamin Perry of Portland, Tenn., his second wish.
Ben has Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, which typically affects older children or teens and occurs more often in large muscles that are attached to bones, usually muscles of the trunk, arms, and legs.
The sixth of eight children, Ben’s wish is to go on a shopping spree. He loves country music and one of his first purchases will be cowboy boots and a cowboy hat.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me,” Ben said.
There are several wish-granting organizations in Tennessee, some very large and well-known, others almost never heard of. However, due to funding, it’s one wish per eligible child.
So what happens when the child relapses?
“Relapse can happen several times before passing away,” Sturm said. “Chemo and radiation can cause financial burden, and the family may not have a lot of money because of treatments.”
“No other organization in Tennessee grants a second wish,” she said. “And 18-21? Nobody will do that at all.”
Ben received chemotherapy five times a week for 42 weeks. Doctors thought he was in the clear, but had to maintain regular checkups. Six months after his last treatment, cancer was once again detected, this time in his arm and his lung.
As Ben gears up to battle more chemotherapy and radiation treatments, volunteers of the 501st Legion’s Midsouth Garrison put on armor to help kids like Ben fight.
You can find more information on Dreams and Wishes of Tennessee here.
More information on the 501st Legion is available here.