Cancer Victim leaves gifts of hope, heroism

by Shirely McLellan

Jimmy Dykes was only 13 in July 1989, a very tender age to become a hero. It was something he learned to do quickly and continued to do until he died Thursday.
Jimmy needed a bone marrow transplant to check the leukemia that threatened to overwhelm him. He had battled his mortal foe since 1978 when he was a student at Pattengill in Berkley.
1988 was a year of sliding economy, world tensions, and a time when Jimmy became a unifying force. He never saw himself that way, he was a normal kid who wanted to do all of the things the other kids do and he had courage. Both his parents, Don and Vicky Ann Dykes and his Berkley grandparents, Herbert Rickman and Mari Ewing had a lot of pride. They had always done things for others and it was hard to accept help for themselves with the escalating costs of Jimmy's medical treatment.
But the Berkley community responded to Jimmy Dykes as Berkley always responds to its children. A Berkley Men's Club committee formed, there wer car washes, dances, and donations from businesses like Innfield's Restaurant. One resident Cheryl Wilson hled a "Stop and Shop" sale for Jimmy on her front lawn. The community raised almost $15,000.00. Harry Hartfield Jr. of Hartfield Lands and Lounge came up with the final needed donation from the Michigan Bowling Center.
Jimmy call the cancer "the dragon" he had to slay. At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, he set forth on the battle and came home triumphant,.
It was back to Anderson Middle School and then Berkley High. The Berkley's Men Club elected him "King of Berkley" in 1988-1989. Men's Club members Bill Akerman and Ron Meyers led the Men's Club back to help again, when there was a setback and gallbladder surgery was necessary and the dragon had returned.
Jimmy beat his foe once more, but pneumonia found him weakened from his struggle, and his valiant spirit went to rest.

This was an article written at the request of Ron Meyers, April 1992, and printed in the Daily Tribune. Ron Meyers was very instrumental in helping us raise funds for Jimmy.