CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- When Benny Martinez was 11, he was the top fundraiser in a St. Baldrick's event at his middle school. Days after the event, he, himself was diagnosed with medulloblastoma brain cancer.
"We were in on vacation for Spring Break, we ended up in the emergency room and they found a brain tumor, which was shocking," said Michelle Martinez, Benny's mother. "He started treatment, then 6 months later, he was diagnosed with radiation necrosis, a severe side effect of the treatment itself."
The necrosis paralyzed him from the neck down, but Michelle Martinez said her son continued to fundraise.
"In his involvement with St. Baldrick's, he established a hero fund and has been working hard to do fundraising even before he was diagnosed. He actually funded another research study a couple of years ago. Now we've partnered with Lurie Children's Hospital," she said.
The foundation granted Dr. Simone Shredni and her research team $100,000.
"It's literally to improve other kids that may have the same condition as Benny. It's related to his own condition and to what we can do in our efforts to improve the quality of life. It's very special."
Benny is now a sophomore in high school, goes to class three days a week, and goes to therapy the other two days. His mother said he's always loved science, so he's thrilled to continue making strides in cancer research.
"I have a fantastic picture from the first grade. He dressed up as the mad scientist. He loves science. All of his classmates from chemistry will be jealous that he got to come visit the lab," Michelle Martinez said.
The Baldrick’s Foundation Benicio Martinez Fund for Pediatric Cancer Research has raised more than nearly $300,000.
"We're hoping something comes out of this research so the whole world knows who Benny is," Eduardo Martinez said.