BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A young man battling colon cancer has received a gift from the heart that will help him save for his future.

Chris Rosales, 19, was diagnosed with colon cancer in February after complaining of severe stomach pain. He has already undergone surgery to remove a part of his large intestine and is now going through chemo treatments weekly at the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center in the southwest.

The diagnosis came as a shock to not only Chris and his family, but also doctors who say it is very rare for someone his age to be diagnosed with that type of cancer.

"I was calm about it. Just try to think positive, I guess. Hopefully everything will go all right, everything's going right so far," said Rosales.

Chris' courage and strength prompted his social worker, Shannon Hernandez, to nominate him to receive an award from the Josh Farler Memorial Foundation.

Chris was chosen out of four applicants to receive a $10,000 check to help him through his battle.

Organizer Michael Nipper started the foundation in 2004 to help raise money for his cousin Josh, who was battling testicular cancer. Josh lost his battle one year later. From then on, Nipper and a team of volunteers have been raising money through poker tournaments and BBQs to help others.

"Josh, he comes and plays with us every year, so he would be proud. To be able to hand someone a check and know that it helps them out, it was a good feeling today," said Nipper.

Chris said he already has plans on what he's going to do with the money.

"Probably just save it, give some to my grandma I guess, and maybe go to school with it and buy me a car," said Rosales.