The Dunwoody community and a newly formed non-profit rallied on Sept. 4 around a 14-year old DHS student recently diagnosed with a rare brain cancer, sending him off to a fun-filled weekend in Gainesville, Fla., before he begins radiation treatment.

On Aug. 8, Jonah Blick, according to a release about the event, had a massive seizure that led doctors to discover three brain tumors. He has since undergone two major brain surgeries in Atlanta and Boston, and begins radiation treatment on Sept. 8.

Jonah Blick (right) at a surprise celebration on Sept. 4 at Kingswood Church. (Photo by Cathy Cobbs)

YES DAY, an Atlanta-based nonprofit providing moments of joy for children and young adults facing life’s toughest challenges, organized the celebration in the Kingswood Church parking lot, which included appearances by community leaders, Dunwoody High School officials, Dunwoody Police, Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Tech cheerleaders and mascots, along with a special police escort as the group headed out of town.

The weekend, according to Yes Day Founder and Executive Director Jodi Sonenshine, will include several surprises, including on-field access, player meetups, and a donated suite at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for Jonah and his friends to watch Florida take on Florida Atlantic.

University of Florida was the theme of the celebration. (Photo by Cathy Cobbs)

“This is an incredible example of the power of the community and the power of yes,” Sonenshine said. “We can’t fix a diagnosis, but we can bring joy. For the next 48 hours, there will be no mention of cancer and no talk about diagnosis.”

Ironically, Jonah’s mother, Randi, and Sonenshine are lifetime friends, having met 26 years ago at the University of Florida. After Jonah’s diagnosis, she said it was both “heart-breaking and heart-bursting” to be able to use the nonprofit to provide a life-changing experience for her godson. Randi is also a member of the YES DAY board of directors.

Sonenshine said the community has signed up to bring meals to the family for the next six months and has sent unexpected care packages, with more offers to do everyday chores for the family so they can concentrate on Jonah’s treatment and recovery.

Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said the hundred or more attendees “today are temporary Gator fans, but they are all Jonah fans for life.”

Cathy Cobbs is Reporter Newspapers' Managing Editor and covers Dunwoody and Brookhaven for Rough Draft Atlanta. She can be reached at cathy@roughdraftatlanta.com.