10-05-2025
Hundreds rally for birthday surprise for Springfield boy battling cancer
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) — A 5-year-old boy battling cancer received a special surprise when hundreds of people turned out for a parade in his front yard.
For the Fulk family and their son, Larkin, this is a birthday for the books.
'It was amazing, I mean, the support for our little boy from just all over, I just can't say enough to the people who went above and beyond for him,' said Lewis Fulk, Larkin's dad.
Last year, 5-year-old Larkin was diagnosed with leukemia, and has been fighting alongside his parents and two brothers.
Due to his condition leaving him immunocompromised, his family needed to get creative for his birthday party. Soon enough, their invitation for a 'drive-thru birthday party' spread like wildfire across social media.
'The post seriously said, 'Can I get anyone to come to Kenton Ridge parking lot to drive by for Larkin?' And people started saying yes, and it snowballed tremendously,' said Julia Fulk, Larkin's mom. 'I don't think any of us are prepared for what we're about to see.'
Ahead of the parade, the community gathered at the staging area down the road. It was a surprise not only for Larkin, but for the full Fulk family, who had no clue what was about to come down the road and right into their front yard.
The parade itself lasted over an hour, with hundreds of cars, motorbikes, police cruisers, semi trucks, fire trucks and countless others. Passengers hung out of car windows with signs, blasting silly string and gifting cards and presents.
'There were more strangers there than people that we knew, so it just says a lot about our community,' said Julia Fulk.
And Larkin was happiest of all.
'Thank you everyone,' said Larkin.
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