A group of local students have gone above and beyond to help support a former Pleasant Valley basketball player suffering from leukemia.

Sydnie Christman and Khamaria Harris, who study Health Occupations Students of America at CCTI, may not have been particularly close to Schyler Herman, but when they heard about her health issue, they stepped up to support a student in need.

“I haven’t known Schyler for long, just about the last two weeks messaging back and forth. I got to know a good chunk of her life,” Christman, who plays junior varsity basketball, said. “Schyler played basketball during the summer with a team member of mine and I got information from her. One day, my coach, Ralph Andrews, gathered all of his players and told us the news, and asked if we could put something together. Since then, my mind has only focused on school, basketball, family, and what my team and I could do to help Schyler and her family.”

With the holiday season right around the corner, and very little time available for fundraising efforts, Christman and Harris figured a T-shirt sale was the way to go.

“We wanted to do something in a short amount of time for Schyler, and selling T-shirts is a good way to raise money,” Harris said.

Christman quickly developed a design reading ‘No One Fights Alone,’ and contacted CCTI and ETA Team Equipment for quotes. Within 10 days, more than 220 shirts were sold.

By the time the Lady Indian Holiday Classic Christmas Tournament rolled around, only 24 shirts remained. The girls manned a stand outside the gym to sell off the remaining stock. They featured a posterboard detailing information about Herman and the disease she is battling.

Paige Frantz wasn’t entirely familiar with Herman either, but when she met her at physical therapy, she was inspired to do what she could to help out.

“I did a fundraiser that consisted of coffee cans with teachers’ names on them, and the teacher that raised the most money at the end of the day would have to kiss a pig at our pep rally on Dec. 8. We raised $306 for Schyler, and the winning teacher was Ms. Carol Andrews.”

During a break in the tournament, Christman, Harris, and Paige Frantz presented a check for $1,000 to Herman’s parents. A contribution of $55 was provided to the American Cancer Society as well.

As Sherry and Mike Herman took to the court to accept the funds, everyone could see how the gracious nature of these students, along with all those who rallied around their daughter, touched their hearts.

“On behalf of Schyler, we want to say thank you, very, very much. We are very grateful for your support and compassion,” Sherry said.