FREDERICK, Colorado — Kids at Grand View Elementary School are making sure their classmate, Kamden "Kam" Jones, will always be remembered.
Student council, along with the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at the school, are raising money for a playground in his honor.
"Kamden, right after brain surgery, went wheel chair bound so we want it to be a place where all kids can come and be kids because that’s what they deserve," said Erica Warembourg, Kam's mom. “There’s not many places where we could take him to where he could do normal, everyday kid things."
Kam passed away at age 5, after being diagnosed with medulloblastoma. Doctors found the brain tumor in June 2021. He died a day before his 6th birthday in April.
He had been a preschooler at Grand View.
“He really was just a resilient little buddy,” said Alyssa Rehder, Kam’s preschool teacher.
Hundreds of kids have gone through Rehder's classroom and they all leave an imprint on her heart. But every once in a while, she said there’s one who shines so bright they become more than just a memory.
“Before Kamden got sick, we would sit and talk about, ‘How are we going to let him go to kindergarten? He can’t go to kindergarten we love him too much,'" said Rehder. "His smile, his laughter, his joy and I think it’s the unconditional love that kids give, he really gave it.”
Kids who didn’t even know him know how special he was.
“We really wanted to remember him and keep his memory alive," said Eve Curtis a fifth 5th grader at Grand View. "Kids call him 'Warrior Kam' because he was very brave and strong."
Rehder said she still hears his laughter and remembers his smile.
She also has a quote on the wall, dedicated to Kam's memory.
“From the Sandlot, 'Remember kid there’s heroes and there’s legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die,'” said Rehder.
And now at his old school, Kam will always be more than just a memory.
"He’s always with us," his mom said. “The only thing that keeps me and my family going is Kamden’s impact and honoring his life."
Click here to support the students and PTO raising money for Kam's playground.
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