A dedicated teacher endured a three-hour drive to receive cancer treatment, only to face a new challenge when his car was stolen during his hospital stay in Kansas City.
Bruce Bingham, who is both a teacher and a track coach, was in a Kansas City hospital on the night of February 8. Upon waking, he discovered that his car had been taken.
According to a Meal Train fundraiser, Bingham was diagnosed with prostate cancer as well as a particularly aggressive form of skin cancer earlier this year.
After undergoing a significant seven-hour surgery, he has been required to travel over three hours from his Hutchinson, Kansas home for specialized radiation therapy.
A GoFundMe page for Bingham describes his journey as challenging, noting, “The journey itself is demanding, but it became even more difficult when his car was stolen during his hospital stay in Kansas City.”
Bingham reported to the Kansas City Missouri Police that he had parked his vehicle on the street around 6 p.m. on February 7, according to People magazine.
‘Without proper insurance coverage, this loss has left him struggling with both transportation and mounting financial burdens,’ the fundraiser, created by Teesa Sneddeker, said.
‘The costs of ongoing medical care, combined with the need for reliable transportation to continue his treatments, have created a situation that is difficult to manage alone.’
Bruce Bingham, a teacher and track coach, was staying at a Kansas City hospital overnight on February 8 when he woke to find his car had been stolen
Bingham was diagnosed with prostate cancer, as well as an aggressive ‘undetermined’ skin cancer, months ago
Bingham told the Kansas City Missouri Police he had parked his car on the street at around 6pm on February 7 and woke the next day to find it had disappeared
As of Sunday afternoon, the page had raised over $10,800 for Bingham’s medical and travel costs.
Bingham devotes himself as a teacher at Fairfield Middle School and a track coach at a High School in Langdon, KWCH reported.
Students gushed over the beloved educator and hoped for his speedy return to the classroom.
‘He’s really funny and very entertaining,’ student Piper Schmidt told the outlet.
‘I’d say our favorite teacher here,’ said Adellynd Katz, who said Bingham’s cancer diagnosis ‘was just really hard for everybody.
‘It just makes everybody really sad.’
Beau Langer at Fairfield High School said: ‘He’s like family to me, you know, because if I have something going on, I just ask him.’
‘I really miss him,’ one student told the outlet. ‘I’m excited for him to come back when he does.’
Kendra Nisly, a fellow teacher at the elementary school, said that Bingham is ‘just a wonderful person and then for him to be going through these struggles is really hard to see.’
Bingham’s son, Spencer, said that the community’s kindness is ‘deeply appreciated’ and seeing the community rally for his dad ‘fills my heart’
Bingham devotes himself as a teacher at Fairfield Middle School and a track coach at a High School in Langdon
Kendra Nisly, a fellow teacher at the elementary school, said that Bingham is ‘just a wonderful person and then for him to be going through these struggles is really hard to see’
Fairfield Public School Superintendent Richard Spender told People that Bingham had undergone a ‘successful’ surgery to remove a tumor in his ear.
‘He is a great teacher and friend to all. Our prayers are with him and his family as they navigate the days ahead,’ he added.
Bingham told KWCH that he loves his family, his school and his students, and was left astonished by the support he has received from the community.
‘I just… I can’t believe that, you know, everybody would come together and rally like that because it’s so awesome,’ he said.
According to a post by Bingham in January, he is expected to receive radiation treatment for six weeks.
‘I am truly appreciative of the meals, your prayers, and the monetary gifts that I have received from friends, neighbors, family, coworkers, and anonymous individuals. I am truly blessed and grateful for you all,’ he wrote.
Bingham’s son, Spencer, wrote on the Meal Train fundraiser that the community’s kindness is ‘deeply appreciated.’
‘Knowing there is a community that cares so deeply about my dad fills my heart,’ he wrote.
Police told People that the investigation into Bingham’s stolen vehicle remains ongoing.
