PETERBOROUGH — Reagan's Run 5K race will be held at 10 a.m. at ConVal High School in Peterborough on Saturday to support cancer patient Reagan Buffum of Surry and his family.

Family friend and recent ConVal graduate Cara Weiner, 18, of Peterborough has organized the run to support the Buffum family.

“We're looking for support. So no matter if people are coming just to watch or walk or run or do anything or donate. Just to support and to show the family there are people thinking of them is great,” she said.

It has been a long, hard battle for Reagan and his parents, Mary and Frank Buffum.

Reagan, who just turned 8, was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia in July 2009 when he was 5.

“I don't know how many surgeries he's had,” Frank said, looking back on the long stays at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth in Lebanon for chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

“He has chemotherapy every day. Now it's just in pill form,” Mary said.

It has been hard on Reagan. He doesn't remember a time when he didn't have cancer. He has developed stomach problems from the numerous medications, which often make him sick or drowsy. The hardest part, though, are the things he can't do, such as play sports, his dad said.

Mary said what she really wants people to understand is how much families go through.

“People associate any kind of cancer with losing your hair and weight and being nauseous. Reagan has certainly experienced all of those things, but there is so much more that children and families go through,” she said. “He's had so many problems with his stomach. He's had pains in his legs … cramping in his legs.”

He developed shingles, she said — and then there are children who have teased him because they don't believe he has cancer.

He has a physical therapist for his development problems and a psychiatrist for his anger issues.

“It's just a brutal, painful experience, and it just goes on and on,” Frank said.

Reagan, though, is a happy outgoing child, his mom says, and is looking forward to a summer theater and dance camp in Keene he'll start next month.

During the years of difficult cancer treatments, the family has enjoyed a Disney Cruise made possible by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and several retreats and camps for families and children with cancer.

Weiner organized the first 5K in 2010 that was held at Shieling Forest. She got the idea because she was a cross-country runner at ConVal.

“The idea came up and when I get an idea in my head I don't like to let it linger,” she said.

“She's an amazing young lady,” said Mary, who works as a nurse at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene with Weiner's mother.

Frank runs his own scrap metal business.

Reagan contends he won that first race, because he was the first child to cross the finish line.

“It's a kid's race, so the first kid to cross the finish line wins,” he said.

“It was a great feeling for us and definitely for him to be able to finish that. For a while, after he was first diagnosed, he couldn't even walk,” Mary said.

The family was surprised at how many people — high school students, local fire fighters and runners from the area — turned out for the run.

“It always amazes me how many people come out to support a sick child,” said Frank.

And they even met another family who has a child with cancer, Mary said.

Frank said after years of treatment, the family can see the light at the end of the tunnel: remission. In November, Reagan's doctors plan to stop all treatments and only monitor him for a recurrence of his caner.

Mary said she is both excited and frightened about his remission. “It's mixed feelings, cause there's a feeling, there's a sense of relief that when we get there there will be so much less to do. Because right now we're giving so many meds and taking so many trips. Just a lot more stuff to be done when he's on treatment. Then there's, most kids when they relapse, they'll relapse in the first six months. It's a scary feeling.”

“You're really looking forward to it. It's the 'What's on the other side?' factor,” Frank said.

The race will be a 5K road race look along a paved bike path and well as roads. Par

ticipants are free to walk or run the course. The entry fee is $30. The event is a USA Track & Field sanctioned event.

For more information, go to www.reagansrun.weebly.com or email reagansrun@gmail.com.

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Meghan Pierce may be reached at mpierce@newstote.com.