Bend man battling cancer honored at Civil War

On Tuesday night, the No. 1-ranked Mountain View basketball team took the court to play Bend in the Civil War. But it’s the story off the court involving a well-known Bend man that brought the community together, in color purple and spirit.

Jason Heffner is known for the work he’s done building the Little League baseball facilities in Bend. And over the last year, Heffner has battled pancreatic cancer. At the Civil War game, his daughter Allie and her classmates decided to show him their appreciation.

“He’s the toughest man that I know,” Allie Heffner said.

The past year has been tough for Heffner, who battled pancreatic cancer last year and beat it two months ago.

Unfortunately for Heffner, the cancer reappeared just one month later.

“For it to be over and him be cured with it, and then get it again, I think it’s harder the second time, even though we’ve been through it once,” Allie Heffner said.

Once Allie heard the news, she wanted to do something to honor her dad, who has done a lot for the community.

“I knew she was up to something, but I had no clue it was this big,, and all the Bend High and Mountain View kids getting involved is just amazing,” Jason Heffner said.

Whether you’re a Lava Bear or a Cougar, everyone opted for purple.

Heffner said he was overwhelmed by the number of people who are on “Team Jason.”

“The support the community and the high schools have given me has been amazing over the last year, and it’s just overwhelming,” he said.

Allie said her dad serves as a role model in the community because of his countless selfless acts.

“He’ll do anything to help anyone out,” she said. “That will come first before anything for him.”

The “purple out” put on by his daughter left Jason Heffner emotional.

“It’s hard to hold back the tears for everything these guys have done,” he said.

Jason Heffner told NewsChannel 21 with all the support he’s received from the community, he’s confident he’ll be able to “Kick Cancer” a second time. As for now, he has a couple more months of weekly chemotherapy.