Topeka car show to show support for 7-year-old with leukemia

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A local mother and members of the Topeka car scene are banding together to show support for a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a form of blood and bone marrow cancer.

On July 17, Ashley Purvis's daughter, Summer, was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. According to Purvis, Summer was taken to Stormont Vail after getting sick with strep throat. When she got to the hospital, doctors found she was sick with leukemia.

Summer was transferred to Children's Mercy Hospital where she spent 12 days going through multiple transfusions. According to Purvis, if the condition wasn't caught in time she could've died.

Summer is currently undergoing chemotherapy. On her birthday, Aug. 14, she has a doctor's appointment to undergo a spinal tap and a bone marrow biopsy. Purvis wanted to let Summer know how wide her support network is.

"We're going to have a little parade to show her support," Purvis said. "To show she's got everyone behind her and she's going to beat this."

Purvis is now organizing a car show starting at 1 p.m. Aug. 17 at 4051 SE Shawnee Heights Rd. in Tecumseh. Parade-goers will line up their vehicles and travel to Summer's home on 29th Street at 12:50 p.m. Purvis said attendees are welcome to bring gifts for Summer's birthday.

The car show community isn't the only group working to show support for Summer. Purvis said a manager at Longhorn Steakhouse is putting together an event in support of Summer at 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Aug. 24.

The Shawnee Heights Fire Department also said they would make showings during the event.

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