Josiah Richey “feels famous,” according to his mother. And judging from the support he’s receiving from his community, he has good reason.

Richey, an 11-year-old seventh grader at Honey Creek Middle School in Terre Haute, Indiana, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer. Over the past few weeks his parents, friends and other Terre Haute residents of all ages have organized various fundraising events to make his wishes come true.

“We didn’t realize that our son and (the family) had such a strong community behind us,” his mother, Angela, said. The support, she added, has been heartwarming and touching. 

“It means a lot,” she said. “That’s why he feels like a rock star.”

A “typical” 11-year-old boy who loves video games, animals, electric guitars and drums, Josiah has created a list of things he hopes to do. This “bucket list” includes a trip to Disney World in Florida, visits to the Creation Museum in Kentucky and Legoland; and a trip to Chicago to watch the Bears-Packers game at Soldier Field in September, according to Angela’s husband, Fred.

The family is currently at Disney World, already making the first wish on Josiah’s list come true. But his former teachers and classmates at Fuqua Elementary School are planning a fundraiser to make his other wishes — particularly the Bears-Packers game — a reality.

Angela said that the fight against a tumor on Josiah’s brain stem started about three years ago. Doctors did not know what it was for about a year, until in 2013, when they finally determined it was a tumor, which, after radiation treatments, was stable for about a year and a half. 

But about three months ago, Josiah started having seizures — one of them was an hour and a half long and resulted in him being airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital. Later, more tumors were found. After having brain surgery on June 4, a biopsy came back indicating he had Stage 4 brain cancer, widely regarded as the most advanced stage, with many patients expected to live anywhere from a few months to five years.

Angela, Fred and Josiah’s older siblings just want him to “have the best summer ever,” she told the Terre Haute (Ind.) Tribune Star. “I want him to feel special” and to “know how much we love him.”

Those feelings are shared by Josiah’s many friends in the community, including his former teachers who are organizing some of the events.

“My goal is just making him happy,” Julie Bender said during an interview at Honey Creek, where items donated by local businesses for a car wash and cookout fundraiser were being prepared. Not only is his family “special,” she said, “loveable” Josiah is “truly one in a million.”

“There are just some kids you never forget, and Josiah is one of them,” added Mike Glotzbach, Josiah’s former fifth-grade teacher. “We would like to give back to Josiah as much as he’s given to everybody else.”

A dinner and silent auction are also planned for this weekend. The family’s fundraising effort has “grown way beyond our belief,” Fred said. “(Josiah) feels famous right now because there’s so many people behind him.”

The Terre Haute (Ind.) Tribune Star contributed to this story.