INDIANAPOLIS -- He fought and won his battle with cancer, and as he took on the terrible disease, this Fishers boy found beating drums helped him along the way.
At 12-years-old, Luke Andritsch is wise beyond his years. When he was 3-and-a-half, doctors diagnosed him with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For the next three-and-a-half years, Andritsch took a daily dose of chemo.
"Quite often we say Luke is an old soul in a young boy's body because he had to grow up so fast," said mom Vicky Andritsch.
For years, Andritsch and his family and supporters have been running "Team Luke," the non-profit they established shortly after his diagnosis. Team Luke gives back by raising money for research and stuffing canvas bags called rhythm packs.
"We put different types of musical instruments in here and we do that because when I was on my last year of treatment I found that I liked playing the drums and it helped me," Andritsch said.
Andritsch's mom realized playing bongo drums was an easy activity that even a cancer patient could do.
"It just gives you something to do and helps you with the vibrations," Andritsch said.
These days, Andritsch delivers rhythm packs to patients at both Indianapolis children's hospitals, and has even branched out to a second state.
He also holds drum circles in the hospital lobbies so all of the patients can get together and bang away.
For his service to his community, Luke Andritsch was selected as RTV6's Jefferson Award Winner for the month of June.
If you have someone you'd like to nominate for a Jefferson Award, click here to learn how.
