Holley community rallies for student diagnosed with leukemia
Provided photos
Photo by Tom Rivers: Evan Valentine joined the sophomore class during the homecoming parade on Sept. 28. The sophomores were celebrating the culture of France.
HOLLEY – This big group of Holley students, teachers and staff wore orange on Monday as a show of support for sophomore Evan Valentine, who was diagnosed with leukemia on Friday and was admitted to Strong Memorial Hospital.
Evan is a member of the boys varsity soccer team. When his friends heard of his illness, they put they call out on social media for students to wear orange. One of his teammates, Brad Kingdollar, also worked with his father Troy to make orange T-shirts that say “Evan Strong — In this family nobody fights alone.”
The T-shirts will be available for $10 (presale) on Thursday at the High School Library at 6 p.m. with about $6 per shirt going to the Valentine family.
There will soon be 500 orange “Evan Strong” wristbands available.
“Our kids are amazing,” said Samantha Zelent, a high school social worker. “When a crisis hits, this town rallies.”
Holley Rotary Club members Krista Wiley-Neale and Bob Miller hold a check for $1,000 that the Rotary Club approved on Monday to be given to the Valentine family.
