TONGANOXIE, KAN -
Last year an unsettling wave of child illnesses hit Tonganoxie, Kan. From cancer to injury, more than 20 children's families found themselves in need, so the community came up with a solution, raising $20,000 in just eight months.
"It's so awesome," said Tammie George, Tonganoxie elementary school principal. "The money we raised is amazing. I'll get emotional."
In a small town, the difficulty each family is going through is felt by the community, each child's struggle felt personally by his neighbors.
"We've had leukemia, car accidents, brain injuries, it's really gone the gambit," said George.
So when three high school students fell sick last year, the student body pulled together.
"Trying to figure out what can we do," said Leana Leslie, Team Tongie board member. "And a student in one of our leadership classes came up with this idea, instead of trying to help each individual family so much we could unite and do so much more."
So far Team Tongie has raised $20,000 in just eight months, an amazing accomplishment for a small town, but people in Tonganoxie say it's not a surprising one.
"It's not just that it's just oh some guy down the road," said Leslie. "It's your family, and you want to reach out and help them."
Jake Ostermeyer is on the mend after a kidney transplant this summer.
"I think it was like first grade, so I've lived with this for a long time," he said. "My transplant back in July, July 1st, and we've gone from there to now."
His family is one of the beneficiaries of Team Tongie.
"I'm thankful for it, yeah," said Ostermeyer.
So whether they're rolling or running, bouncing or tossing, Tonganoxie families are in this for each other, helping everyone move forward together.
"It's so awesome," said Tammie George, Tonganoxie elementary school principal. "The money we raised is amazing. I'll get emotional."
In a small town, the difficulty each family is going through is felt by the community, each child's struggle felt personally by his neighbors.
"We've had leukemia, car accidents, brain injuries, it's really gone the gambit," said George.
So when three high school students fell sick last year, the student body pulled together.
"Trying to figure out what can we do," said Leana Leslie, Team Tongie board member. "And a student in one of our leadership classes came up with this idea, instead of trying to help each individual family so much we could unite and do so much more."
So far Team Tongie has raised $20,000 in just eight months, an amazing accomplishment for a small town, but people in Tonganoxie say it's not a surprising one.
"It's not just that it's just oh some guy down the road," said Leslie. "It's your family, and you want to reach out and help them."
Jake Ostermeyer is on the mend after a kidney transplant this summer.
"I think it was like first grade, so I've lived with this for a long time," he said. "My transplant back in July, July 1st, and we've gone from there to now."
His family is one of the beneficiaries of Team Tongie.
"I'm thankful for it, yeah," said Ostermeyer.
So whether they're rolling or running, bouncing or tossing, Tonganoxie families are in this for each other, helping everyone move forward together.
