Little boys love their superheroes and Landon Burt is no exception.

Now, the 6-year-old has become superhero-like himself, as he battles his own great nemesis - acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Landon's mom, Tracy, received the devastating news in June 2012 that her sweet little boy had leukemia. Instead of preparing for kindergarten, they were now facing three years of treatment that included chemotherapy, radiation and steroids.

Since his diagnosis, however, Landon has shown superhuman strength, along with wit, compassion for others and a maturity beyond his years. Though she would be quick to deflect the attention back onto her son, Tracy is one of Landon's heroes. Praising his mom for correctly administering shots, Landon seems to recognize the challenges she's facing to continue her nursing program - working toward her bachelor of science in nursing degree - while juggling life as a single parent.

Tracy and Landon make weekly trips to the Pediatric Oncology unit at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane. At home, they manage the daily injections and pills to make his "sick blood" healthy. His family described his diagnosis to him as "sick blood" and they all are saying prayers for healthy blood. Landon also remembers his friends at the hospital in his nightly prayers.

Everyone who meets Landon is touched by his compassion for others and his family says his courage and humor are an inspiration when life gets tough.

When asked by a family member if he wanted anything after a rough night of headaches and fever during his first of many stays at Sacred Heart, Landon said, "No, you don't need to worry about that."

Faced with the prospect of his hair falling out as he began a new phase in his treatment last November, he took it in stride relating to so many of his little leukemia buddies who had already lost their hair. He even changed his Wii character to reflect his new look.

When the doctor prescribed reading glasses for some deterioration in Landon's eyesight (possibly due to chemotherapy), Landon couldn't wait to start wearing them so he could look just like Peter Parker of Spiderman fame.

And there's the serious, wise-beyond-his-years side that wakes up at 3 a.m. to ask adult questions about aging and death.

Now, after nearly a year of intense treatment, Landon starts two-and-a-half years of maintenance that includes oral chemotherapy every day, steroids once a month, weekly blood draws, IV chemo once a month and lumbar punctures every three months - if all goes as planned, plus weeks of radiation in July.

Landon's family has deep roots in the Coeur d'Alene community. His maternal great grandfather, Bud McKay, started Cd'A Anesthesia Group in 1964. His paternal grandfather, Denny Burt, has owned Burt's Music and Sound since 1974. The family supports Landon and Tracy any way they can.

Landon's grandmother,Wendy Devenere, uses her nursing skills to help ease Landon's side effects from the chemo and talks to him about his "happy place" when he gets anxious before a treatment. When Landon feels well enough, he loves eating pizza, riding his Big Wheel tricycle and playing with his 2-year-old cousin, Elijah, son of Frank and Tarah Boerner.

Wendy's friends and coworkers at Hospice of North Idaho have been conducting small fundraisers over the past nine months to help with expenses and are now organizing a Benefit for Landon, with the support of many others in the community. The event will take place on Saturday, June 1, at the Cd'A Eagles, 209 E. Sherman, beginning at 6 p.m. There will be food, a no-host bar, raffles, an auction and music courtesy of the Renovators. The Anna Schindler Foundation is the event sponsor. Rose and Matt Backs will be lending their talent to the auction.

The community is invited to support Landon in his fight. Tickets to the benefit are $20/person. Donations and auction items are welcome. For more information, call (208) 640-0449 or email LandonBurtFundraiser@gmail.com. Checks should be made payable to Tracy Burt, FBO Landon Burt Donation Fund and sent to P.O. Box 3344, Hayden, ID 83835.

If you go

The Benefit for Landon Burt takes place June 1 at 6 p.m. at the Cd'A Eagles, 209 E. Sherman, Coeur d'Alene. The cost is $20 per person. Information: 640-0449 or LandonBurtFundraiser@gmail.com.

The benefit is being sponsored by The Anna Schindler Foundation, established in 2011 in memory of Anna Schindler who was only 7 when her life was taken by hepatoblastoma - a rare childhood liver cancer.

Since January, the foundation has given more than $17,000 in meal cards to families whose children are inpatient at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane. Thousands of dollars go to help families defray expenses of food, travel and lodging while their children are sick. In addition, $10,000 annually goes to childhood cancer research.

Their mission is to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer, as well as support oncology families during their child's illness. The foundation's dream is to provide "a home away from home" for oncology families who live several hours from the hospital and must stay in the area for treatment.

More information is available on their website: annaschindlerfoundation.org or on their Facebook page: The Anna Schindler Foundation.