Samantha Wellington of Standish said her son Nick is like a lot of other fifth-graders; he likes to laugh and make jokes, play soccer and video games.

Unlike most 11 year olds, however, Nick Wellington is facing his second battle with cancer. First diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the summer between kindergarten and first-grade, he was treated with chemotherapy for two years. In January, doctors said the cancer had returned.

“He’s scheduled for another two years of chemo, we’re praying it gets rid of it forever this time,” said Samantha Wellington.

As he prepares for more treatment, a magic show will be held Friday, April 18, to raise money for Nick Wellington’s family. The show starts at 7 p.m. at the George E. Jack Elementary School at 15 Northeast Road in Standish. Admission is $5 per person.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia occurs when the bone marrow produces immature white blood cells at a fast rate. Bone marrow transplants can reduce the time a patient needs to have the chemotherapy that works by introducing drugs into the body that attack cells that divide at a fast rate. Unfortunately, this also includes healthy cells in the bone marrow, intestines, hair follicles and the lining of the mouth.

Samantha Wellington said children with this form of cancer, which the American Cancer Society reports as the most common form in children, have a 75 to 95 percent success rate of long-term survival.

Because of his recovery, Nick Wellington has been less active and hasn’t been able to play soccer for a few years. He said he still likes to play video games but wouldn’t be able to use a Nintendo Wii because the controller is motion-based and would be too physically demanding.

“If a child is off treatment for five years, he will be considered cured,” she said. Because this is Nick Wellington’s second bout with cancer, she said she doesn’t know what the success rate is, but understands it to be lower.

Samantha Wellington works as a preschool teacher for special needs children in Portland. She said she and Nick are looking at staying at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center for three or four days at a time while he receives treatment.

You don’t get much sleep when you sleep at the hospital,” she said. She said her ex-husband and Nick’s father, Aaron Wellington, has been taking time off without pay to be with their son and she has been using up her vacation time at work.

“At some time I’m going to run out of that,” she said. She said her son’s treatment will be covered by insurance, but the cost of missing work is looming on the horizon.

That’s where Dennis Labbe of Steep Falls comes in. Under the stage name of “Mr. Magic,” Labbe will be performing the magic show to raise money for the family of Nick Wellington.

Labbe, who is receiving the 40 percent of admission while the rest goes to Nick Wellington’s family, said he may donate a larger share to the Wellington family if the turnout is large enough.

Labbe is the vice president of the Portland chapter of the Society of American Magicians and said he was contacted by a friend of Samantha Wellington and invited to perform at the school.

He said he was about Nick Wellington’s age when he started practicing magic. His father was a professional magician and Labbe said he now makes about 75 percent of his income through performances, the rest of his income coming from maintenance work.

Labbe said the crowd can expect conjuring tricks where people and animals are pulled from nowhere, a mind reading portion and humorous audience interactions.

Virginia Day, supervising principal at the George E. Jack and Edna Libby elementary schools said this is the third benefit the school has held for Nick Wellington this school year.

“I just feel very blessed we have a community that understands that one person can make a difference and each person can help,” she said. Students also sold chocolate Easter bunnies last month and held a sports hat day where students who donated money got to break the ban on hats indoors.

Day said the staff and students have been very enthusiastic about helping Nick Wellington’s family.

“The things they do really come from the heart,” she said. She said children are unfairly portrayed as self-centered and the involvement she has witnessed at the school shows otherwise.

Day said she expects a large turnout at the magic show.

This is going to be a big deal,” she said.

For more information on the April 18 magic show or to make a private donation, call Debbie Bondeson at 642-4523. Donations can be made out to The Wellington Family Fund, 6 Chelsea Drive, Standish, ME 04084.

“We’re just so incredibly grateful for the community support,” said Samantha Wellington.

Standish boy benefitted by magic show