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Ten years on, mother remains hopeful her missing son will be found

It's been a decade since Lucas Degerness went missing, but his mother still holds out hope the mystery of his disappearance will be solved - and better yet, they will be reunited.

It's been a decade since Lucas Degerness went missing, but his mother still holds out hope the mystery of his disappearance will be solved - and better yet, they will be reunited.

On June 7, 2007, at age 14, Lucas disappeared from Prince George Secondary School. His mother, Gina Degerness, later discovered he had spent that summer night at a friend's house and left sometime in the morning. He has never been seen again.

Through the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, Gina sent out the following message:

"Yet again, son, I haven't heard your voice or seen your handsome face in so many years. This horrible limbo of a life is wearing me out. My heart breaks a little more each day.

"I am super sad and hope that you have the heart to contact us. If you are unable to do so, perhaps someone who does know what has happened will contact us. There are many ways to do so and remain anonymous. I love you son, no matter what."

Her hopes were buoyed in March 2014 when the Centre's tipline received a call from a male stating he was Lucas Degerness.

There were details about the short call that gave Gina hope that this could truly be him, including the name the caller used for her and the way he said his last name, which is usually mispronounced.

But it's been silence since then.

"Heartbreak is all too familiar for families of missing children, but calls like this bring new hope," said MissingKids.ca director Christy Dzikowicz.

"We have so much hope that Lucas is out there and that the public can help. Look at the age progression photo - really look. Does he look familiar to you? He could be anywhere in Canada, but we believe he is out there somewhere."

Finding Lucas is not out of the realm of possibility. There have been instances where long-missing children have been found, Dzikowicz said, notably in the United States.

Anyone who has "even the smallest piece of information" on Lucas' disappearance and where he may be is asked to come forward.

Tips and sightings can be submitted to MissingKids.ca online, by calling 1-866-KID-TIPS (543-8477) or by calling Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300.