Already the efforts of the Symmes Valley Band Boosters have brought about results for 12-year-old Ervin Ray White.

Ervin Ray was diagnosed this summer with ALL, a cancer of the white blood cells, and faces a bone marrow transplant at the first of the year.

Because of his susceptibility to other illness, Ervin Ray has to be homeschooled. The young boy needed a laptop computer to help him keep up with his studies.

Because he had started band last year at the middle school, the band boosters wanted to see what they could do.

A week ago they had a Longaberger open house at the school. Their goal was to raise funds for the boy’s medical and traveling expenses and a laptop computer.

Last Saturday Kay Hager, president of the band boosters, was able to give to Melisa Walters, Ervin Ray’s mother, a new laptop computer that an area resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, donated to the boy. Best Buy discounted part of the purchase price and added extra software and games free.

“It is amazing to have a donor donate the whole laptop and wanted to remain anonymous,” Hager said. “They were delighted to get the computer and she was very grateful. But the pain in her eyes when she came to pick up the laptop, it broke my heart.”

Now the money raised at the open house, plus the proceeds from the upcoming Longaberger Bingo on Sunday, Dec. 14, will go to Ervin Ray’s family. The event begins at 2 p.m. at Symmes Valley High.

Recently, the boy, who has to go back and forth to Children’s Hospital in Columbus, lost his medical card, Hager said.

He was originally scheduled for the bone marrow transplant on Dec. 15. However, Hager said she was told that the boy has walking pneumonia so the surgery had to be rescheduled.

So far, the boosters have raised $213.

Also joining the effort is the Symmes Valley Board of Education, which made donations and encouraged school-wide support for the fund-raising efforts.

“Kim Turner with the board of education has been a huge help with all of this,” Hager said in an e-mail. “He spoke to the other board members … Many teachers and students have since then made donations for this child. … I am so proud of how our school and community is working together to help this family.”