Hastings Kindergartener Gets Pleasant Surprise

When Hastings Elementary School Kindergartener Ndubuissi "ND" Iweka was diagnosed with cancer last Oct. 18, "I had to stay home" to care for him,  his mother, Helen Parker, said Tuesday.

Tuesday, Cops for Kids With Cancer Chairman Robert Faherty presented Parker with a $5,000 check to help the Westborough family.

The volunteer organization of active and retired police officers, and friends of police officers, has donated $5,000 each to about 40 families with children with cancer in 2013, he said during a presentation at the Westborough Police Station. The organization has donated about $1.2 million since 2008, he said.

Faherty gave Iweka a teddy bear, a blanket, a cap and a Boston Police badge.

Parker said her son has treated for Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

"We've had so much help from the doctors. Everybody been so helpful," said Parker, whose family moved to Westborough five years ago.