Young Belmont residents helping friend battling cancer with ‘Operation Colby Claus’

Lexington fourth grader Colby Horvath has been battling cancer for the last 18 months and has found a way to help uplift the spirits of fellow patients at the Mass General Pediatric Oncology Clinic.  Last year, he started a program called “Operation Colby Claus,” collecting toys and then dressing up as "Colby Claus" and delivering them to pediatric patients at MGH each week.

Colby Horvath of Lexington

How to donate

Horvath, 10, was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2020. His friends, Madison and Avery Elias of Belmont, are helping him collect donations. They have placed a collection box at the Toy Shop of Belmont in Belmont Center where people can drop off unwrapped toys through Dec. 19. Madison and Avery’s mother, Kristina, is also collecting donations via Venmo (@OperationColbyClaus) for her daughters and Horvarth to purchase gifts for Operation Colby Claus at local Belmont shops.

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Belmont residents Madison (right) and Avery Elias pose in front of the drop off box for toy donations at the Toy Shop of Belmont to help their friend Colby Horvath of Lexington who is battling cancer.

"I wanted to help Colby because he's a great friend and has been through so much fighting cancer.  I hope to support his Operation Colby Claus project in Belmont to help the kids at MGH,” said Madison, 12.

The MGH Pediatric Oncology Clinic supports children from newborns through 18 years old.

"I wanted to help the kids that are going through treatment and make them smile,” said Avery, age eight.

Last year Colby delivered over 700 toys (and $7,000 in gift cards), which filled the shelves of the pediatric oncology clinic, the proton radiation center, the inpatient floors, and the imaging unit to help brighten the day of children undergoing difficult procedures and long inpatient stays. Additionally, it directly supported Christmas for the families of 46 pediatric cancer patients with financial need.

For more information

Follow the progress of Operation Colby Claus @OperationColbyClaus on Instagram.

For more information, email KristinaElias@comcast.