Keim, Bloom will be memorialized at Wharton Park

By SEAN BLEVINS

Times sports editor

Blaze Keim and William “Mason” Bloom will be remembered.

The pair will be memorialized with two custom-made benches at the Wharton Park Disc Golf Course in Kenton, thanks to the efforts of Mike Styer and Hanna Castle.

“Last year Hanna Castle and I had talked about putting something together for the family,” Styer said. “It kind of fell on the backburner. This year, the family of Blaze said something online, and that sparked the fire back in us again to get something done for the family. We also knew that Mason was a disc golfer himself. We decided we were going to honor the memories of both these two gentlemen. And I thought it would be a good thing for the community to do for these families.”

Keim and Bloom both passed away in 2022 from chronic illnesses. Keim battled leukemia 11 times and Bloom died from osteosarcoma.

The benches are being designed with the input of the Keim and Bloom families and will cost about $1,500 apiece.

“We’ve got the cost at about $3,000. About $1,500 for each bench. And that’s going to be something that’s permanent, it’s recycled plastic it’ll last forever. It’s got engravings and the families are able to pick the color of the benches. I think this is a really good thing to memorialize the young gentleman and something that’ll last a long time,” Styer said.

He has organized a GoFundMe to honor their legacy, which has raised $665 of its $2,500 goal as of this moment. Proceeds will go toward the benches. Costs include materials, shipping and the placement of concrete slabs. Donate to the GoFundMe at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-honor-blaze-and-masons-legacy?cdn-cache=0.

Bloom was a 2018 graduate of Kenton High School who played football, tennis and swam. He continued his education at Toledo University and participated in the Rocket Disc Golf Club until his fight with cancer got in the way. He was an athlete who transitioned to a coach as he shared his knowledge with the youth involved in the Kenton Stingrays swim team, the Hardin County YMCA Sea Dragons swim team and the Kenton eighth grade football team.

Keim battled leukemia since he was two and almost made it to 15 years old. He was a kind, loving soul taken too soon.

“Over the span of his short lifetime, his leukemia had come back 11 times — each time stronger than the last,” reads the description of Keim on the GoFundMe. “But anyone who knew Blaze, knew he never let it dull his shine. While it made him wise beyond his years, somehow he was still able to carry such a pure, young filled soul. Blaze loved spending time with his family. Partaking in outdoor activities and cracking jokes. You could also find him with nerf guns in hand or enjoying video gaming! Blaze knew how to take joy in the small things in life but his smile and personality were always larger than life. His journey on Earth inspired so many people and created a large community for childhood cancer. Even in his last hours, he was still experiencing life by camping for his first time ever. We saw many miracles happen during his journey with cancer and the miracle of all of the moments with him will live on.”

Styer said the project will get done regardless of if the GoFundMe reaches its target goal. He and others are prepared to chip in if necessary to make sure the legacies of Kein and Bloom live on.

“With my bike charity that I have in honor of my dad —he passed away from cancer. When I saw what the two boys were going through and they showed strength and courage in their situation, it’s something that we need to honor and remember. It’s one little way that we can show the families that they touched our lives, and that we won’t forget them. These benches are going to be there forever. The fact that Mason was a disc golfer and we’re putting it at the disc golf course. Blaze liked to be outside. He enjoyed riding his bike and stuff. Having that at the park is a good memory for both of the boys,” Styer said.

He added that he hopes to see more people honored at Wharton Park in the future.

“I would love to see more of this at the disc golf course. It’s such a nice place down there. It would be great to be a memorial park for honoring family members or anybody like that. Maybe it’ll be a good start to that,” Styer said.