By Jim Lockwood
Staff Writer

During the past year, 8-year-old Zachary Hedstrom of Auburn received help from family, friends and faculty at Auburn Village School while he waged a bout with leukemia, a form of cancer that affects blood-forming cells.

Diagnosed with leukemia in 2004, Auburn's Zachary Hedstrom, 8, with his dog, Beanie Girl, received proceeds from the Sucker Brook Cross Race on Sept. 25, to help the Hedstrom's pay for medical expenses. (Jim Lockwood Photo)

On Sunday, Sept. 25, at the Auburn Village School, cyclocross athletes from Bedford to Africa helped Hedstrom by competing in the Sucker Brook Cross Race.

Proceeds from the race helped to pay for Hedstrom's medical expenses.

"It's really special," said Hedstrom. "I feel happy that people would do that for people who are sick."

Cyclocross is an event that combines off-road and on-road riding. It features obstacles like mud, sand, and small, steep inclines.

The Sept. 25 event featured men's, women's and kids. races, and featured three national cyclocross champs, including Bedford's Stephanie White, 16.

Charity was shown in the first race of the day when all five of the prize-winning finishers of the 35-plus men's Master Race donated their monetary winnings, totaling $150, to Hedstrom's cause.

"It was a simple decision (to have the race benefit Zachary) once I found out about (him), said Jack Chapman of the Friends of Massabesic Biking Association, the event's organizer.

In the final days of the '04 school year, Zachary had a stuffy nose. He developed what his mother, Susan, thought was a high fever or a virus.

Zachary also lost weight. But that was difficult for Susan to detect; he was small for his age.

Nonetheless, Zachary went to school - he wanted to be with his friends as school finished.

Then, on June 22, 2004, at Boston's Children's Hospital, the Hedstroms were informed of Zachary's condition.

According to Susan, the family was shocked. They didn't know too much about leukemia.

Zachary began receiving chemotherapy almost every other day. Now, one treatment per week suffices. He hopes to end treatment in December 2006.

Both the Auburn Village School and the community supported the Hedstroms.

The school sold "Zach Packs" filled with popcorn, videos and candy. Profits from the "Z Ride," a motorcycle ride from Nashua to Auburn, also went to the Hedstroms.

He also traveled to Disney World through the Make-AWish Foundation.

Zachary said he really enjoyed the "Give Kids the World" resort. There, he recalled, he could have ice cream whenever he wanted, even at breakfast and dinner. There was a theater and miniature golf there as well.

The Sucker Brook Cross Race was one of the first in the cyclocross season, which runs from September through December. White said she enjoyed participating, but mainly because it had some added value.

"(Racing for Zachary's cause) puts the race in perspective. We're out here to have fun and race well, hopefully," she said. "But it makes it more fun if you know it's for a greater good."