Cancer Victim, Wyckoff Teen Ben Landel Honored

WYCKOFF, NJ — Benjamin Landel inspired others during his 9-month battle with NUT carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer.

Landel, 18, died in January 2018. He lived in Wyckoff and was a standout soccer and track player at Ramapo High School.

The New Jersey Assembly passed a joint resolution Thursday designating January as NUT Carcinoma Awareness Month. Assemblymen Kevin Rooney and Christopher DePhillips, who represent New Jersey's 40th Legislative District, which includes Wyckoff, sponsored the resolution. (See related: Ramapo HS Soccer, Track Athlete Ben Landel Dies Of Cancer)

"Raising awareness can help others struggling with symptoms receive the correct diagnosis," Rooney said. "That was Ben's hope. It is our privilege to honor him with this resolution. He was a determined, courageous, selfless teenager who helped others while overcoming many obstacles as he battled this horrible disease."

Ramapo rack coach Bill Manzo agreed. He spoke at a candlelight vigil shortly after Landel's death about his ability to unite people. (See related: Hundreds Walk In Memory Of Ramapo's Ben Landel)

"There was something special about Ben that transcended team colors that made everyone a part of the same team: Ben's team," Manzo said to the crowd. "In Ben's death, it is that sense of community that Ben created that helps me through my own grief. Look around you right now at this crowd and do not let your hearts be troubled, for this right here part of Ben's legacy. Even in his absence he continues to bring people together."

The district and greater Wyckoff community came to Landel's aid with a video campaign called the Ben Landel Crossbar Challenge" to raise money for him. More than $44,000 was donated on the campaign's GoFundMe page.

Landel's teammates spoke highly of him at the memorial walk at Ramapo High School shortly after his death.

"He was always the one person, at any race, he was always cheering everyone on. He was always the one who was saying 'come on guys we can do it.' He was always the one who would motivate others to run harder and stick together," said Izzy Boomhower, one of Landel's track teammates. "He was the fastest runner on our distance team, and he was always saying 'our team did this' or 'we accomplished this.'"

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com.

Photo: Ben Landel/Courtesy of GoFundMe, a promotional partner with Patch