BLOOD BROTHERS DRIVE HONORS LASTING FRIENDSHIP.Byline: Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writer CASTAIC - Underneath Ian Riner's dining room table, he and Justin DeLong sat sipping grapefruit juice and snacking on quesadillas. It was a hideaway for the 2- and 3-year-old boys who often spent lunch playing fort under the table, sometimes dressed in camouflage pajamas pajamas Noun, pl US pyjamas pajamas npl (US) → pijama msg; piyama msg (LAM . But that image is only a memory now though preserved by a picture. DeLong, 15, died in July after a long battle with leukemia. In memory of his childhood friend and to earn his Eagle Scout Ea·gle Scout n. One who has achieved the highest rank in the Boy Scouts. Noun 1. Eagle Scout - a Boy Scout who has earned many merit badges Boy Scout - a boy who is a member of the Boy Scouts badge, Riner, the American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. and the Live Oak Elementary School elementary school: see school. Parent-Teacher Association parent-teacher association Noun an organization consisting of the parents and teachers of school pupils formed to organize activities on behalf of the school held a blood drive Sunday to help the depleted de·plete tr.v. de·plet·ed, de·plet·ing, de·pletes To decrease the fullness of; use up or empty out. [Latin d blood and bone marrow supply in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . At least 50 people came to the elementary school to donate and help the member of the Eagles Nest Troop 583. Riner, a Valencia High School Valencia High School may refer to:
``I hope not only to get a lot of blood, but to encourage people to do it again in the future,'' Riner said. Riner, 16, decided to dedicate the project in his friend's memory after visiting with DeLong's parents Labor Day weekend. DeLong, who lived across the street from Riner, was diagnosed with cancer at 5. He was in and out of the hospital for treatment and went into remission. Riner and DeLong kept in touch after DeLong's family moved to Canyon Country about five years later, and the friends saw each other when they could. The last time they spent together was while competing in a triathlon during the summer of 1999. In February, the leukemia reappeared and DeLong was back in the hospital fighting the blood disease once again. On July 15, while Riner was hiking with his father and troop in the Sierras, they heard the news of DeLong's death. ``I didn't really realize it happened until I got back home,'' Riner said. Now, he shows off the picture mounted on a poster board displayed at the blood drive with note to all: ``Justin has been my friend ever since childhood, and we shared many fun and exciting times that will always remain in my heart. Justin died this July after a brave battle with leukemia that he tragically lost, and I dedicate my Eagle Scout project in his memory.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Boy Scout Ian Riner organized a blood drive Sunday in memory of Justin DeLong, who died of leukemia in July. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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