TIFTON — A dice motorcycle run is being planned for March 31 to raise money for a nine-year-old recently diagnosed with brain cancer.

Mikah Phillips was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in February and has been receiving treatments since then, according to his sister Kelsey Barton.

“When he went in the hospital they thought he had the flu,” Barton said. “They finally did a MRI or a CAT scan and found out he had a seven centimeter brain tumor. They did brain surgery and removed it. They thought it was benign, but then when they did another MRI that night they found out it had spread rapidly.”

Barton said that two weeks ago another three centimeter brain tumor was removed, but that the doctors were unable to remove all of it.

“He’s awesome,” she said. “He’s a tough little boy. He loves sports, he loves cars.”

Barton said that getting her little brother treated has taken a huge financial toll on the family.

They have to travel to Jacksonville every week for treatment, and his insurance company just informed the family they wouldn’t cover any more of his medical expenses, according to Barton.

Brian Collins and Lonnie Lewis, two of the organizers for the event, said that when they heard about the family’s troubles, they wanted to do something to help, and came up with the dice run as a fundraiser.

The event is being cosponsored by the Tifton Elks Lodge and the Crazy Loon Saloon, which is where Barton works.

The dice run will begin at Tifton Harley Davidson, with registration starting at 11 a.m.

From there participants will ride to Sycamore, Fitzgerald, Douglas and then back to Tifton, where they will end at the Crazy Loon Saloon.

At each stop each participant will roll the dice, and the three people with the highest score win a payout.

Collins said that this is an unescorted run, meaning there will not be police leading the run and there will be no lead rider.

“You don’t have to ride a bike to participate,” said Collins. “I’m targeting that group because they’re very good givers. Most bikers love to participate in things like this.”

He said he’d love to have 100 bikes participating.

There will be events at the Crazy Loon Saloon from 3-5 p.m. for anyone who doesn’t ride but still wants to participate in the fundraiser.

Some of the events include drawings, door prizes, live music, drink specials and BBQ by Deez Butts, winners of the 2018 Rhythm and Ribs BBQ competition.

For more information or to donate contact Lewis at (229) 392-0358 or Collins at (229) 520-2355.

Follow Eve Guevara on Twitter @EveGuevaraTTG.