Evansville Dad and Daughter will Face New Heights After Conquering Childhood Cancer

Let me introduce you to my new friends Ben and Kennedy Hester. They have signed up to go Over the Edge for GRANTED on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Kennedy is the brave one that talked her dad into rappelling down a 9-story building. But once you hear their story, you'll see why this should be a piece of cake.

Kennedy Hester is only nine years old, but she has been through a lot in her life. You see, she had neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that is usually diagnosed in children under the age of five. Kennedy went through major surgery on her abdomen and left leg due to neuroblastoma when she was only a year old.

Kennedy undergoing one of her many scans (Photo 2)

She was put under for every scan, which was prob 20+ times before she was 2yrs old from her first procedure at 7mo old.

Ben during Christmas of 1998 undergoing chemo for osteosarcoma (Photo 1)

Kennedy's dad, Ben knows all too well what it's like to battle cancer. Long before Kennedy was born, Ben had surgery on his left arm due to osteosarcoma. He was only fourteen at the time of his cancer diagnosis.

Dr. Daniel Wurtz, an Orthopedic Surgeon did major surgery on Ben’s left arm when he was 14yrs old due to osteosarcoma. Fast forward abt 16-17 years, he also did major surgery on Kennedy’s abdomen and left leg due to neuroblastoma. She was 1yr old at the time. Here they are in 2022 for a 5yr checkup for Kennedy.

Now, you might think that after all of the procedures and the continuing check-ups that the Hester family would be tired of talking about cancer. They are sharing their story and preparing to help grant wishes for children with cancer or life-threatening illnesses.

Watch for this Super-Team on Saturday, April 29, 2023.

OTE4GRANTED 2023 - Street Festival
Saturday, April 29, 2023 (All-Day)
Downtown Evansville - CenterPoint Energy

• Cheer on rappellers
• Sign up to rappel virtually
• Food Trucks
• Children's games
• Cornhole Tournament
• Live Music
• Star Wars Characters
• Police, SWAT & Fire Trucks

About Granted:
Granted’s service to our children and families extends far beyond their Wish through programming, events throughout the year, support groups, and resource referrals in the family’s times of crisis. Granted has been serving children of Southern Indiana, Western Kentucky, and Southeast Illinois with terminal or life-threatening conditions, and fulfilling their greatest Wishes since 1985.

4445 Commerce Street, Suite 108 | Evansville, Indiana 47710
812-425-9474 | Fax: 812-200-5640

Read More: Donate So GRANTED Evansville Wish Kids Can Go Over the Edge 2023