They're calling it “Fort Blake.”
With the help of dozens of volunteers, donations from Home Depot, his grandfather, and yes, even passing city codes and permits, the relatively large playhouse constructed in the Prairie Village backyard has been a year in the making. And it's all for Blake Danforth.
The 9-year-old has a physical disability, which causes paralysis on the right side of his body due to an inoperable brain tumor he's had since the age of two.
"He's a trooper,” said grandfather Sandy Blake, a Vietnam War veteran. "He's been through so much, and he just smiles the whole time. He's got a good mental attitude."
Blake’s biggest wish over the last year has been to have his own playhouse. On Thursday when the 9-year-old got home from school, he saw what he helped his grandfather design several months ago, only much larger.
"Blake kinda helped design it. But we took his design and put it on steroids essentially,” said Jason Sanburg, project specialist with Home Depot. "It’s got a 12 foot front wall that will be here. The back wall is just over 9 feet.”
Even grandpa Sandy can’t quite believe their vision is finally being built.
"When we started this project a year ago, it was just a dream. And here we are putting a dream to reality,” he said. "It touches my heart because it tells me that there's still good people out here that care about other people and want to help."
Volunteers and donations to make ‘Fort Blake’ happen came from The Home Depot Foundation and Hopebuilders Home Repair.
