Six-year-old Bryce Linton may be the son of just two event rental industry leaders but on Saturday, June 11, in a special celebration of his resiliency as he recovers from a recent bone marrow transplant, he was honored like a child of all in the community.
The Brothers For Bryce fundraising event saw hundreds come together to support Bryce at a Worcester Bravehearts baseball game at Fitton Field in Worcester, Mass.
Bryce, the son of Julie Creedon-Linton, CERP, vice president, Creedon and Co. in Worcester, who also serves as American Rental Association (ARA) Region One director, and Michael Linton, CERP, owner, Michael’s Party Rentals, Palmer, Mass., was born with Hyper IgM, an immunodeficiency rendering his body unable to fight viruses or bacterial infections.
For a lengthy stretch of his life, Bryce has needed plasma-based infusions to help his immune system function. This has meant restrictions on common activities that boys his age love to take part in, like swimming in lakes and playing with farm animals.
Bryce inspired the establishment of Brothers For Bryce, a campaign to educate and encourage people to join the “Be the Match” stem cell/bone marrow registry to help deliver life-saving treatment. After a two-year wait, a bone marrow donor was found for Bryce and in May 2022, he underwent a transplant procedure at Boston Children’s Hospital.
During the aftermath of the transplant process, Bryce endured pain and the side effects of a chemotherapy regimen, but was well and spirited enough to attend the fundraising event, have some fun and witness the outpouring of support from relatives, friends, and his extended rental family from across the region and the U.S.
“The event was an example of how a community can come together to support friends and family. The Creedon-Linton family has gone through unimaginable struggle in recent months, and it was an amazing opportunity to be there for them,” says Sarah Wilper, director of communications, Mazzotta Equipment Rentals, Middletown, Conn., who co-organized the event with Stefani Donabedian, marketing director, Resolute Industrial, Worcester, Mass.
“It was heartwarming to see how many people came — about 200 people attended. We got to see ARA faces from Connecticut, Maine, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Florida, North Carolina and Massachusetts,” says Donabedian.
“This event illustrates why rental is the best industry — dozens of rental professionals from all over the country took time out of their busy schedules to travel and support this very deserving family. In a world that doesn’t deliver a lot of good stories, this was a great story,” says Jeff Crotto, CERP, president, All About Events – Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Fla.
In addition to offering support, the event raised funds to help Bryce’s family with the costs associated with his treatment.