'He's a tough little boy.' Wishes Can Happen gives Alliance family a super birthday bash

ALLIANCE − Asher Fotheringham got a real superhero sixth birthday party.

Wishes Can Happen, which has been granting wishes to local children with life-threatening illnesses since 1982, hosted a weekend of fun for Asher. He has acute myeloid leukemia, a rare form of cancer that attacks the bone marrow and blood.

More: Wishes Can Happen celebrates 40th anniversary with recipient reunion

More than 150 people were on hand at the Alliance Country Club to celebrate with Asher, who recently returned home from Akron Children's Hospital after an eight-month stay.

"He's always happy and upbeat, even when he's not feeling well," Cody Fotheringham said of his youngest child.

Asher's stepmother, Isabella, described Asher as someone who's always willing to help others.

"He always wants to help with whatever we're doing," she said.

Asher's big Wishes Can Happen weekend

On Saturday morning, an army of family and friends accompanied Asher, his five siblings, dad and stepmother to the Lego store at Ross Park Mall in Pittsburgh, one the largest Lego stores in the world. It opened early for a private shopping spree.

General RV donated the use of a mobile home to transport the family. The shopping spree was followed by a visit to the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.

Asher, who had ever been to a zoo, was given behind-the-scenes access, said Madelyn Sweeney, Wishes Can Happen's community relations director.

Sweeney said Alliance Country Club donated use of its ballroom and provided plenty of decorations and food for Sunday's party. Asher was chauffeured to the festivities in a bright-green Dodge Charger Hellcat courtesy of owner Dan Braucher of North Canton.

"I met Dan about a year ago and told him about what we do," Sweeney said. "We remembered him and called him up, and he was just so excited to do it."

Mayor Andrew Grove and his wife, Sue, presented the family with a proclamation declaring March 17 "Asher Fotheringham Day."

Members of the Louisville boys' basketball team dressed as superheroes and Louisville magician Tim Angeloni performed a magic show. Cinderella, the Easter Bunny and SpongeBob SquarePants were also part of the fun.

Asher Fotheringham's brave fight

"He's a tough little boy," said guest Amy Horn, who works with one of Asher's grandmothers. "He's been through a lot He's very smart. I've learned a lot of things about him from his grandmother."

Asher's great-aunt Roxanna Fotheringham said she is grateful so many came out to celebrate his birthday, which is officially on April 3.

"He's a little fighter," she said. "They said that the first two hours they announced it, 110 people responded. "

In honor of Asher's love for science, Mad Science presented a "Fire & Ice" show. The Aultman Foundation also presented a slide-show featuring pictures of Asher, set to his favorite songs, and a staffer from Akron Children's Hospital read him a story.

Sweeney said the birthday party is a prime example of the generosity that makes Wishes Can Happen possible, adding that last year the organization was able to fulfilling 65 wishes for local children.

Wishes cost an average of $6,500. The majority of funding for the charity, which was co-founded in 1982 by Cyndi Morrow and Linda Lippert of North Canton, comes from its yearly "Wish-a-Thon" fundraiser hosted by WHBC Mix 94.1 and 1480 AM.

"We received the wish on March 11," Sweeney said. "To be able to pull together this wish in such a short time is because of the generosity of so many people."

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com On Twitter: @cgoshayREP.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Wishes Can Happen hosts birthday bash for Alliance boy with leukemia