A popular Connecticut radio station is renaming itself after a 9-year-old boy battling brain cancer.
For the day on Tuesday, 104.1 WMRQ is changing its name to Anthony FM in honor of Anthony Longley, 9, of North Haven.
Anthony has been fighting anaplastic ependymoma, a type of brain cancer, for the past six years, according to a GoFundMe page raising money for his family. He has had five major brain surgeries since 2009 on top of other medical procedures.
Anthony is a big brother who loves football and professional wrestling.When DJ David Fisch, host of Fish in the Morning on 104.1 WMRQ, asked him how it felt to have a radio station named after him, his reply was simple.
"Good," Anthony said.
Fish came up with the idea to rename the locally owned radio station after he received a call from Anthony's mom. The radio station's website has linked to a GoFundMe page for the family.
"I'm a dad myself and I couldn't imagine going through this with one of my children or one of my sons," Fish said. "When his mom reached out to me for help, I could only say yes."
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Fish broadcasted Anthony FM out of North Haven, Anthony's hometown, in the green with Anthony Tuesday morning. His teacher stopped by and he made her promise on the radio not to give them homework for the first week of school.
"I got an email last night about it and I woke up this morning at 4 o'clock and I was like 'oh my gosh, I have to go out," Donna Gawrowski, of North Haven, said.
Many people stopped by to say hi to the 9-year-old and drop off donations. The money will go toward sending him and his family to Disney.
It's a welcomed break for Anthony and his North Haven family.
"It makes me feel good," Anthony said.
His parents have stayed by his side during his treatment at Yale-New Haven Hospital and now Boston Children's Hospital, meaning a lot of time away from work. A GoFundMe page supporting them said they have "exhausted all funds" and asks people to help them help Anthony fight his brain cancer and to "find a cure for this demon." Anthony is going through his second round of radiation treatment through the month, according to the GoFundMe page.
So far, $3,440 of the $10,000 goal has been raised.
