Friends and family members of a Santa Clarita Valley boy with cancer are asking the community to help donate to a blood drive for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to benefit Team Connor and other pediatric cancer patients.

Connor Coughenour, 10, of Saugus, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a cancerous tumor that develops around bone, on Sept. 3 after a month of testing.

“He had a lump in his leg that we thought was just muscle. He’s a catcher who represented Hart Pony field,” said Connor’s mother, Christina Coughenour. “His doctor agreed it was just muscle. We took him to a different doctor who said that’s it was not muscle, that it was not normal.”

The lump ended up fracturing Connor’s leg. He was playing baseball and football on a fracture, she said.

Team Connor GoFundMe Account

Connor, who attended James Foster Elementary in Saugus, played football for the Blackhawks team for Santa Clarita Valley Athletic Association Warrior Football. He also played baseball for Hart PONY Baseball and Santa Clarita Legends.

“When looked at this kid you would not have known his was sick,” said Melissa Mangarin, a family friend and one of the organizers of the Team Connor Blood Drive. “He was running around and just finished baseball season. It’s been a battle, but he’s been blessed. All of the things that could have gone a different way, have gone well.”

Team Connor members are hosting a blood drive Tuesday, Dec. 30 for Connor and the other children who receive services at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles at The Church On The Way in Santa Clarita. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“There will be a five minute check-in process, 10 minute drawing, and five minutes of recovery,” said Mangarin. “There will be plenty of space have a room available in the church. We should be able to get people in and out quickly.”

Connor prior to his diagnosis.

Connor, who can receive A- and O- blood, wanted to give back to the hospital, Mangarin said. Team Connor is asking people of all blood types to come and donate.

Connor just finished his sixth round of chemotherapy, and is expected to start his next round in January, Coughenour said. He’ll

likely need blood after the chemotherapy.

“His lungs originally were full of cancer. His lungs were clear on Nov.19,” Coughenour said. “He had 12cm of cancerous fibular removed from his leg. The nerves and ligaments were reconstructed. He has two other spots on his femur and tibula that they will zap with radiation.”

Most of Ewing’s sarcoma patients are diagnosed with a sports injury first, Coughenour said.

Ewing’s sarcoma is the second most common type of bone cancer in children, but it’s very rare, according to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital website. About 200 children are diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma each year in the United States. The survival rate of Ewing’s sarcoma is 70 percent.

“He is happy, athletic, positive, strong,” Coughenour said. “He’s very social. He’s a people magnet — people are drawn to him. His eyes twinkle. He’s a well rounded boy, he really is.

While many Santa Clarita Valley residents will be ringing in the New Year with parties on Jan. 1, Connor will be celebrating his 11th birthday and taking another step towards being cancer-free.

“It’s hard because you don’t really get to see your friends and you don’t get to go to school. I miss playing sports,” Connor said. “The best part is knowing that after the six round (of chemo), my lungs were clean and that was just a really big, you know, getting closer to the goal.”

Connor said his birthday wish would be to go to Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fl.

“If you get a chance to stop by the Team Connor Blood Drive and meet him you’d be surprised by the strength and resilience,” Mangarin said. “God is playing a big part. He’s been called for a purpose and he just wants to fight hard.”

For Connor’s family, the blood drive and fundraising are just as important as spreading awareness about the disease.

“For me, awareness is so important,” Coughenour said. “This wasn’t what I wanted for him but we just stay positive and put one foot in front of the other. We take one day at a time and know we’re in good hands with doctors, God and friends. He always says ‘Mom, God always takes care of me.’”