SAVANNAH, Ga. (KWQC) - An 8-year-old cancer survivor from Donahue, Iowa, announced the Savannah Bananas baseball team will play at Kinnick Stadium in July as part of their world tour.
Hugh Harvey made the announcement in front of thousands of fans at the 2026 City Selection Show. The team selected Hugh for the honor after he completed treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma.
“I wasn’t that nervous because we had a rehearsal before all of it,” Hugh said.
Cancer battle and recovery
Nearly two years ago, Hugh was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma, 99% of his bone marrow was cancerous.
“When you’re a mom you just want to comfort your child, and I felt so like I couldn’t,” Maria Harvey, Hugh’s mom, said. “I think just seeing him in pain was the hardest part but he’s so strong and resilient and stubborn.”
Hugh underwent multiple surgeries, countless rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants and over 20 rounds of radiation and immunotherapy. In May, he rang the bell and was declared cancer free.
“He never complained about cancer,” Maria Harvey said. “He’ll complain about the jeans that I make him wear, but he would not complain about going to the hospital and I truly think it’s because that hospital is such a one of a kind hospital.”
Connection to University of Iowa
During the announcement, Hugh, the Bananas and fans waved to people watching from the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, where he received treatment.
“I don’t really know why there’s such a bad thing to complain about going to the hospital when they’re the ones taking care of you and trying to get this sickness to go away,” Hugh said.
Maria Harvey said the hospital staff became like family during their treatment.
“The Stead Family Children’s Hospital and the staff are just so loving and caring to families and they made us feel like they were our family,” she said.
Helping other families
The Harvey family is now on a mission to help other families fighting similar battles. This Saturday, they will volunteer at a fundraiser to benefit a family with a baby fighting a rare disorder affecting his brain and development.
The fundraiser is from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Ray’s Pub in Donahue and includes a motorcycle and side-by-side ride, lunch, face painting and raffle baskets.