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Geneva community honors two-year-old who battled terminal brain cancer

Posted at 11:08 AM, Mar 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-27 11:08:55-04

The Geneva community came together on Sunday to honor a two-year-old who battled terminal brain cancer.

Mason Tapia passed away in October 2016 after battling brain cancer for 14 months.

"Just a perfect, perfect little boy. He fought long and hard and we're proud of him," said Tapia's nana, Kim Buskirk.

More than two dozen boys and girls put their best foot forward to perform at that "School is Cool" pageant. Because it was for charity, they were challenged to come up with their best-themed school outfits.

The pageant organizer Andrea Ponteri was amazed to see so much support from the community.

Proceeds from the pageant will go to A Special Wish Foundation, an organization that grants wishes to Cleveland area children battling life-threatening illnesses.

A Special Wish Foundation granted Tapia his final wish.

"They were wonderful to our family and granted my grandson's final wish and he got to go meet Mickey Mouse," Buskirk said.

While many who attended the pageant didn't personally know Mason, they say it's about supporting a neighbor in need.