"Team Ian" helps put on benefit for West Fargo High School sophomore

West Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) -- People in West Fargo are rallying around one of their own. A benefit for a high school student is providing his family with more than financial support.

Ian Alves may look like a normal teenager playing rough with his friends but this is far from the truth.

LISA ALVES (Ian’s mother): “He has demo plastic small round cell tumor and DSRCT for short, it is very rare.”

Ian is a sophomore at West Fargo High School. He's been fighting this rare cancer since June. Ian isn't scared to talk about his diagnosis, but he puts on a much braver face than his mom.

LISA: “He looked at me when he was going through his very first chemo treatment down at Mayo and he said to me he said, it's okay mom, I'm not going to die.”

Ian is an avid athlete, running cross country. After he was diagnosed, his team and church created Team Ian. Soon, the idea of this silent auction and benefit became reality.

LISA: “I do know that living here in this community is better than living in any place else.”

Lisa Alves says without the help of the community and church holding events like this one, it would be hard to keep up with the hefty medical bills.

LISA: I probably have about six to 800 extra dollars a month in bills.

When Ian started loosing his hair after chemotherapy, his team shaved their heads so he would not feel left out.

GAYLE (Organizer): “Its not just a financial support were giving him our, I don't know you could call it our hug support, or encouragement along the way to.”

After Ian finishes the rest of his 18 treatments there is one important thing on his to do list.

LISA: He is banking on being able to start training in the spring with the track team, he wants to run track again this spring.

Ian is one of nearly 200 documented people diagnosed with this cancer since 1989. Proceeds benefit medical bills.

Tags: west fargo, danielle miller, lisa alves, k-12 education, reporters, news, charity, health