An 11 year old Iowa boy named Eli Belser has been battling stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma since he was just four years old. Wanting to lift his spirits, student council members at Starmont High School created a video set to “Don’t Stop Believin’” and challenged others to send messages of encouragement.
What started as a simple act of kindness quickly grew into something much bigger. Messages began pouring in from all 50 states and even from places like the United Kingdom and Australia, creating a worldwide network of support for a boy facing an incredibly difficult journey.
For Eli and his family, those messages have become a source of strength on the toughest days. His mother says that sometimes a video will pop up when he’s struggling, and somehow it helps put a smile back on his face.
The students say the real reward was seeing the impact their kindness had on one young boy. As one student put it, life is about serving others.