Brain Cancer Doesn't Slow Down Catoosa Teen

Dan Bewley, News On 6

CATOOSA, Oklahoma -- It's rarely in the headlines but brain tumors are the deadliest form of childhood cancer. Sunday, dozens of motorcyclists hit the pavement to help raise money and get ahead in the fight to find a cure.

Catoosa teen AshLeigh McHale was diagnosed with brain cancer when she was 5 years old. She's now 14 and doctors believe she has at least 5 tumors surrounding her brain.

"Hard to talk about. Like I said, she's going strong and we just take each day one day at a time and just keep going forward," said Ronda McHale, Catoosa Resident.

AshLeigh spent Sunday with dozens of motorcyclists on a Ride For Kids--a fundraising effort sponsored by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

"I think it's really, it's very nice for what people do for us kids that have cancer," Ashleigh said.

"It means a lot to know that people are coming out and supporting and trying to raise funds to help fight cancer and find a cure, it means a lot," Rhonda said.

Brain tumors are the number one cancer killer for children, everyday eleven new kids are diagnosed.

Organizers say the ride and the foundation is making a difference. In the 28 years since it began, they say, more and more kids are winning the battle.

"We actually see kids living longer now. Kids are going to college, we have a scholarship program now that we didn't have to have when the foundation started because kids didn't live long enough," said Mark Muhlenfeld of Ride For Kids.

With the support of bike loving strangers, Ashleigh's positive outlook seems to be a main reason she hasn't let the disease get the best of her.

"Live each day to the fullest, you never know what's going to happen that day...just keep going and be strong," Ashleigh said.