Community rallies around 9-year-old Greene youth with brain tumor for Jeep-inspired fundraiser

Jul 25, 2024 By Zach Petroff 8 min read

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Jax Hunyady and his father, Dan Hunyady, at a medical appointment following Jax鈥檚 brain surgery in 2023.

Courtesy of Rachel Magerko

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Jax Hunyady, 9, of Greensboro, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2023. After surgery to remove the tumor, Jax was diagnosed with posterior fossa syndrome, which limits his speech and mobility.

Courtesy of Rachel Magerko

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Jax Hunyady, 9, of Greensboro, is shown with his father, Dan Hunyady, who has played an instrumental role in Jax鈥檚 rehabilitation following the removal of a brain tumor in November 2023.

Courtesy of Courtesy of Rachel Magerko

The Jeep Wrangler started out as an all-terrain reconnaissance vehicle for the U.S. Army during World War II. With its reputation for ruggedness and adaptability, the vehicle offers a fitting fundraising theme for Jax Hunyady of Greensboro, a 9-year-old who underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor last November.

鈥淛ax is a fighter and always has been,鈥� said Rachel Magerko, Jax鈥檚 stepmother. 鈥淗e is the younger brother, so he鈥檚 always had to stand his ground,鈥� referring to Jax鈥檚 seven siblings.

In support of Jax, Jay Shultz, owner of Roy鈥檚 Pub in Uniontown, is hosting a Jeep-inspired Christmas in July Fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. With all proceeds going to Jax, the daylong event will feature raffles, music, a cornhole tournament, car show and toy drive.

Shultz, a self-proclaimed Jeep enthusiast, said he wanted to hold a car show to drum up a little business for his newly purchased pub at 622 Pittsburgh Road. While researching fellow 鈥渕otorheads鈥� in the area, he came across Dan Hunyady鈥檚 High Strung Motor Sport website, which belongs to Jax鈥檚 dad.

After learning about Jax鈥檚 journey, Shultz said he was inspired to help and decided to host the Jeep show to raise money for Jax and his family. The only stipulation came from Jax himself.

鈥淛ax鈥檚 family told me from the gate that all Jax wanted was to have toys so he could pass them out to other sick kids,鈥� Shultz said. 鈥淪o we decided to do a Christmas in July stuff-a-Jeep event.鈥�

Attendees are encouraged to bring toys to help fill one of the many Jeeps that will be at the fundraiser.

Along with receiving an outpouring of offers from people who want to help, Shultz said the local business community has been 鈥渕ore than generous.鈥�

鈥淟iterally, every single business I鈥檝e approached 鈥� are donating,鈥� Shultz said. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 ask questions in any way, shape or form; I told them what was happening, and they jumped on board.鈥�

Even Shultz鈥檚 employees, unbeknownst to him until recently, are planning to chip in. General manager Breanna Blackstone, of Connellsville, said she and several other employees plan on contributing, some by donating money and time, and others, like Blackstone, by making baskets for the auctions. Blackstone also said she and several other employees are donating their wages from working Sunday to Jax.

鈥淛ax鈥檚 backstory is really moving,鈥� said Blackstone. 鈥淭he little boy is going through a lot and wants to give back to the kids that are going through the same thing.鈥�

Jax was 8 years old when he underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, on Nov. 8, 2023.

After the 10-hour surgery, he developed posterior fossa syndrome, a condition that affects about 25% of children who undergo similar surgery. The condition can cause speech and communication difficulties, problems with muscle control and coordination and mood changes, according to the National Institutes of Health.

鈥淭his was the most difficult time for us as a family because we watched him walk into that hospital on Nov. 6, 2023, with a headache and come to find out he had brain cancer,鈥� said Rachel Magerko, Jax鈥檚 stepmother. 鈥淲e never would have imagined this.鈥�

Jax鈥檚 family said his journey has been challenging, from the weekly chemotherapy therapy sessions, which just ended in June, to additional surgeries and numerous medical appointments. But they remain hopeful.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a rough road, (like) fighting infections, fevers and nausea,鈥� Magerko said. 鈥淓ach day has new challenges. New wins.鈥�

Jax鈥檚 father has been a major influence and motivator throughout, said Magerko, awakening every morning at 7 a.m. to do a workout with his son.

鈥淲hen Jax lost all mobility and couldn鈥檛 communicate, his father, Dan, became even more determined to do everything he could for Jax,鈥� Magerko said.

Jax鈥檚 family has prioritized making sure the 9-year-old feels like a kid. From going on walks to fishing, riding quads and enjoying the outdoors, Magerko said the family wants to make sure each day is a 鈥済ood one鈥� for Jax.

Magerko, who created a GoFundMe account for Jax to update friends and family on the

youngster鈥檚 progress, said support from the community has been 鈥渕oving.鈥�

鈥淲e live in a small town, so when something like this hits one family, everyone comes together,鈥� Magerko said. 鈥淭he first few weeks of this journey I had so much food at my house from a food train that someone organized. It was truly amazing.鈥�

To donate to Jax鈥檚 GoFundMe visit The Jeep Wrangler started out as an all-terrain reconnaissance vehicle for the U.S. Army during World War II. With its reputation for ruggedness and adaptability, the vehicle offers a fitting fundraising theme for Jax Hunyady of Greensboro, a 9-year-old who underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor last November.