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For the past years, NS has partnered with Make-A-Wish to help children in need.
This year, NS is making changes and has partnered with Christmas for Cancer Families to help the Contreras family and their son, Alejandro, who is battling cancer.
“It hits home a little more this year because it’s in our community,” student government advisor Austin Ison says.
In addition to this, Christmas for Cancer two to Families has offered a grant of $3,000 if NS manages to raise the same amount of money. NS has come up with many ways to raise the money including a paper airplane contest at halftime during the girls basketball game, where anyone who competed could buy an airplane to compete and win prizes like $50 cash and Hawk apparel. Then for students there are fun opportunities to donate, such as a rubber duck raffle, selling candy canes at lunch, and pledges from teachers and other students.
Flyers have also been put up around the school and shared on social media to make it easier for people in our school and outside of it to help Alejandro through his battle.
Alejandro was diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier in August and later the tumor was confirmed cancerous. Since then people have set up many ways to help the family through these tough times.
“It’s wonderful to have so much support,” Rafael Contreras, NS soccer coach and Alejandro’s father said. “The first fundraiser they did for us -the soccer tournament- it helped a whole bunch.”
The diagnosis has made it hard for Alejandro’s parents to balance time between their three children, but the support from the community has uplifted the family.
“The community has helped us a bunch, like helping us take them to practice and just being there for emotional support,” Perla Contreras, Alejandro’s mom said.
During these challenging times, Alejandro has found the positive in the situation and hasn’t changed since. “As hard as it is getting, he’s always smiling, so staying positive is a big thing for me because I wasn’t always positive, and he’s shown me that I need to be,” Rafael said.
Even after his surgery, Alejandro kept his good energy and kept everyone’s spirits up
“Everyone at the hospital loved him because he made them laugh,” Perla said. “He’s been super strong and positive.”
With the NS fundraiser and the community’s help, the Contreras family hopes to show their gratitude by returning the kindness.
“We’re very grateful, and if we can do something in the future to help, we’d like to help and give back next year as a thank you,” Rafael said.
Between all of the many ways to donate to the family, NS encourages everyone to donate and help out.
“We encourage people to help,” Ison said. “It’s nice to know we’re helping someone who’s basically our family.”
