Tuesday's Bucks game supports battle against childhood cancer

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Bucks versus the Indiana Pacers was not the only battle that went down at Fiserv Forum Tuesday night.

Tuesday was the Milwaukee Bucks MACC Fund Game. A portion of some tickets go towards the Midwest Athletes Against Cancer Fund. Five-year-old Juan Pablo was invited to the game. It was his very first one.

"We're going to see them warm up, we're going to be really close to the sidelines and see them prepare for the game. I think maybe they'll call us up to say hello," his mom Herlinda Franco said. 

Juan Pablo was the 2020 MACC star designer. The ornament sold at Christmas time raises money for childhood cancer research.

"That's a tradition where the child that designs that star gets to come in and do something fun with the Bucks," Franco said.

Juan Pablo was just two years old when he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019. He is currently in remission.

"He spent about 156 days as inpatient in the hospital. His treatments were four to five weeks long and they were full rounds of intense chemotherapy treatments. We call Children's and the MACC Fund Center our home because we were there pretty much for a whole year," Franco said.

That's why Tuesday night's Bucks game means so much to his mom Herlinda. The MACC Fund raises money to find better ways to treat kids with cancer and blood disorders.

"They're receiving cancer treatment that is made for adults. There is continuous research made for their little bodies. It's so toxic, it's very harsh. It's intense, it's awful to tell you the truth," Franco said.

Proceeds from the MACC Fund ticket package go towards research efforts. Fans could also add a donation with their ticket.

"Our entire family, we feel like we were by him and were all affected when he was sick, so we see it as a really nice treat that the MACC Fund is giving us as a family fun night," Franco said.

Regardless of the score of the game, it will be win-win event for the Bucks and the MACC Fund.