Benevolent Hilmar teenager gets unexpected payback

Hilmar High School student Erin Benning doesn’t yet have her driver’s license. She won’t turn 16 until next April.

But she’s got herself a car.

It’s a baby blue, 2000 Volkswagen Beetle, and she didn’t pay a dime for it.

It was given to her by a Hilmar family she’s known for only about a year and a half.

“It’s the least we could do to give back for all the help she’s given us,” said Stephanie Pacheco.

Erin, a sophomore who plays for the school’s volleyball team, heard in the spring of 2014 about a young student at Elim Elementary School, where her mother, Catherine, is a district health aide. Kaiden Pacheco, now 9 years old, had recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of cancer that attacks the muscles.

Benning wanted to help.

“I wanted to do something more than pray,” she said. “I knew God could heal her, but I wanted to do something.”

Benning arranged to meet Kaiden and there was an instant connection.

“She’s basically become like an older sister to Kaiden,” said Stephanie Pacheco. “She’s being involved emotionally.”

But Erin made more than just an emotional investment. She invested her time and energy into raising money for Kaiden’s considerable medical costs. Partnering with Pizza Plus pizzeria in Hilmar, Benning organized the Karing for Kaiden fundraising effort that brought in around $40,000. That kicked off a chain reaction of events in the community and, to date, a little more than $100,000 has been raised.

The Pacheco family wanted to say thank you. But how?

“I know cars,” said Kaiden’s father, Paul Pacheco, who works for an Alfred Matthews Collision Center in Turlock. “I can do cars.”

So Paul Pacheco started looking into getting a nice used car for Erin. And when his work associates found out what he was doing, they were eager to lend a hand. Vendors started donating interior work, new brakes, etc.

Pretty soon, a 15-year-old car looked brand new, and on the night of Oct. 7, following a Trans-Valley League victory over rival Escalon, Benning walked out of the school’s gymnasium and into the warm, autumn darkness.

She noticed a VW bug parked in the lot with a red bow wrapped around it.

“There was a card that read, ‘To Erin, from the Pachecos,’ ” Benning said. “I did not expect that. They didn’t need to do anything like that.”

The Pachecos presented Benning with the car the same week she got her learner’s permit. Unfortunately, it also was the same week that the Pacheco family learned that Kaiden’s tumor was again active and, after being in remission for three months, more chemotherapy would be necessary.

But Kaiden and Erin won’t be deterred. The friends have plans to work together to help other kids dealing with life-threatening illnesses.

“I’m really excited about creating a website,” said Benning. “And we have plans for a few fundraisers and to donate to different organizations.”

“She’s done an amazing job,” said John Benning, Erin’s father. “I can’t put into words how proud we are of her.”

This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Benevolent Hilmar teenager gets unexpected payback."