NATCHEZ — Friends and community members are working to assist the family of a young boy who died Monday after a lengthy battle with lung disease.

Freddie Staples, 13, beat cancer — neuroblastoma — as a 1-year-old, but treatments damaged his lungs, leading to ailments that plagued him during the course of the last two years, his mother, Tanya Staples, said.

Freddie had been at a Jackson hospital for a month at the time of his death, but had been back and forth for medical treatment for much longer.

He was a sixth-grade student at Morgantown who loved helicopters and police and firemen, his mother said.

Though medical expenses over the years have been covered, the family is now struggling to cover funeral and burial costs. Services are planned for 2 p.m., Sunday under the direction of Bateaste Memorial Funeral Home.

The funeral home has set up an account for donations, and a spokeswoman said they are equipped to take credit or debit card numbers over the phone, accept checks or receive cash donations at any time. The funeral home is keeping a log of donations.

Bateaste can be reached at 601-445-4388. The funeral home is located at 329 Lower Woodville Road.

Freddie was also the son of Freddie Staples III.