Scotty Banke was a playful, cheerful boy with a zest for life. He loved his family, enjoyed his friends, loved being a part of everything.
He liked to camp, hunt, fish, collect Hot Wheels and perform magic tricks. He teased his older sister and chased his little dog, Gracie.
Scotty often flashed an infectious smile and frequently passed along his loving phrase, “See ya later.”
On the diamond, Scotty learned how to pitch, hit and run as a determined Little Leaguer growing up in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
But the young boy’s life would take an abrupt, terrifying turn.
“He came home one day (from baseball) complaining to his dad that his arm was hurting,” said his cousin, Brian Williams, a sergeant and 14-year veteran of the Auburn police force. “They thought it was just a sore arm.”
A physical checkup on his mother’s birthday in July of 1999 revealed that the 10-year-old boy had developed a rare type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma.
Despite prolonged chemotherapy, several surgeries and a stem cell transplant, Scotty lost his courageous battle with the disease two years later.
Family and friends soon established a memorial fund in Scotty’s name, planting the seed for what later became the “See Ya Later” Foundation, a nonprofit, faith-based and nondenominational organization designed to help families fraught by medical crises. The effort continues to flourish today in Oregon communities and now is being introduced in South King County.
The foundation recently approached Williams about launching a similar effort locally. Experienced in charitable tasks, an inspired Williams was willing to do his part.
“This is my No. 1 priority,” said Williams, who has worked closely with the Special Olympics of Washington and the Detlef Schrempf Foundation. He also has served as president of the charitable Auburn Police Officers Association. “It’s built in me to help others, to help people. That’s why I’m a police officer.”
On the beat, Williams has seen his share of sorrow, of struggling families trying to pay the bills and retain hope, especially now with those caught in the backwash of a bitter recession.
Many families beset with medical emergencies need urgent help, and Williams hopes the foundation startup will take root and spread.
“We are currently seeking donors, sponsors and more importantly, families we can help,” Williams said. “And you don’t have to belong to any church … there are no strings attached.
“We’re looking for those who can help,” he said.
Especially those willing to provide time or drop an occasional dime.
The foundation already has made an impact, helping a Maple Valley family who lost a 6-month-old daughter. The foundation budgets between $1,500 and $2,000 per family, helping them with overdue bills and other needs.
For instance, the foundation bought the family a new dishwasher and wall-mounted TV.
“What we try to do is provide them with encouragement and hope,” Williams said. “Every dollar we take in, we give to the family.”
Families are referred, reviewed and, if they fit the foundation’s mission, adopted.
The foundation also supports college scholarships. It organizes sports and kids camps and fundraising events, such as fishing derbies and golf tournaments. The foundation does its share of outreach work.
Williams is excited about the possibilities and the potential.
“There’s always a family out there in need,” Williams said.
One long-range goal for the foundation is one day to build a regional playhouse for all kids to enjoy. Such a facility was built in McMinnville, Ore., Scotty’s neighborhood, as a tribute to the boy and a way to give back to children of a caring community.
“It was built in honor of Scotty,” Williams said. “Scotty always wanted a place to play.”
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To learn more about the foundation and how you can help, visit www.seeyalater.org. The foundation also can be found on Facebook. For those interested in the local effort, call Brian Williams, the foundation’s regional events coordinator, at 253-332-5144 or (e-mail) brian.williams@seeyalater.org.
