One local family is using its past experiences in battling childhood leukemia to help a family nearly 130 miles away who is now facing the same challenge.

Ten years ago, then-7-year-old Courtney Lawson was diagnosed with leukemia. Fast forward 10 years, and now 7-year-old Clanton resident Logan Pledger is going through a similar bout with leukemia.

Lawson and mom, Tracy, are among the volunteers organizing a benefit for the Pledgers this weekend.

“We will have a car show and bake sale this weekend for Logan,” said Rachel Merrill, a family friend to the Lawsons and co-organizer of the event. “We found out about Logan through our former preacher, who moved up toNorth Alabama and told us about him.”

Merrill said that since Courtney has overcome leukemia and is now a healthy 17-year-old student at Pleasant Home School, they know all too well what the Pledgers are going through.

In fact, the Lawson family has become someone the Pledgers talk to for support.

“They contacted Tracy, and we’ve been sending care packages,” Merrill said. “She and I got to talking about it, you know, what we could do, and it just popped into our heads.”

Merrill said the event will be this Sat., March 19, at Tractor Supply Company from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The Fight Like A Kid event is free, but there are plenty of opportunities to donate.

“We will place buckets in front of each car in the show,” Merrill said. “If you like the car, you’ll donate there. Whomever has the most money at the end of the day will win.”

Additionally, there will be an award for “Logan’s Wild Ride,” the most bizarre car on the lot and the best paint job.

Merrill said there will be a donation booth set up and a bake sale from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., as well.

“The whole community – everybody in Covington County has jumped in to help,” Merrill said. “It has grown into what I think will be an extraordinary event.”