Lincoln teacher organizes fundraiser for former student battling brain cancer

12–year–old Kassidy Gard is quite similar to other kids her age.

“I’m involved in volleyball and it’s my first year so that’s exciting,” Kassidy said.

Kassidy’s life hasn’t been the same since the news she and her family got in September.

“We went in and had the full resection done and then we found out that she was diagnosed with high grade astroblastoma,” Kassidy’s Mother, Sara Bair said.

Kassidy has a rare form of brain cancer and now has to make frequent trips to get Chemo at the Children’s Hospital in Omaha.

“Be strong, be yourself,” Kassidy said.

Chick–fil–A held a fundraiser Monday in which part of the sales went towards the Gard family.

“It makes me feel really prideful of Chick–fil–A, that I can come to work every single day and know that we are serving more than just food, we are serving the community and it’s an awesome feeling,” Chick-fil-A employee, Audrey Krieger said.

Chick–fil–A was only part of the idea as Kassidy’s former fifth grade teacher in Lincoln organized the now second fundraiser.

“Any teacher seeing there kids hurting is tough so you just want to jump in and do something,” Jeff Chartier said.

“He’s been very supportive, phenomenal human being,” Bair said.

The feeling of so many people in one place showing their love and support for you, is a feeling unlike any other for the Gard family. They say this fundraiser will do much more than they could imagine.

“It helps with travel,” Bair said. “It helps with everything, everything,” Kassidy’s Father, Daniel Bard said.

Chartier says Kassidy hasn’t changed since he taught her 3 years ago, she is just as strong.

“Things are going well, she has a great doctor, a great support system, her positive attitude and she is going to be okay, she’s going to make it through,” Chartier said.

Friends and family say Kassidy’s mentality will get her through this and even she says she is one of the lucky ones.

“There are kids that are going through worse things than I am and I give them hope and wish them luck in surviving,” Kassidy said.

If you are interested in helping out Kassidy and her family, they have a GoFundMe page called ‘Cure for Kassidy.’