On Oct. 28-30, the community within Shores’ district united to raise money that went toward a rare cause.

    Science teacher Nicole Helsel’s 18-month-old son named Jack suffers from a rare disease called Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis.

    A major symptom that Jack deals with is excessive itching, which interferes with his everyday tasks, such as eating and playing.

    Jack underwent a three-hour surgery on Oct. 28 at DeVos Children’s Hospital to reverse his condition.

    The proceeds of the two-part fundraiser went to the Helsel family to help with expenses after Jack’s surgery.

    The first day of the fundraiser consisted of chocolate chip cookies being sold, three for a dollar. Students and staff members were generous enough to take time out of their free time to bake the cookies and bring them in. Students and staff were welcome to donate any additional contributions as well.

    The second fundraiser took place Oct. 29 and allowed students to wear a hat to school if they paid a dollar to the cause.

    Also, KICK, advised by English teacher Lori Foley, raised money for the family by holding a sucker sale.

    In a little more than 48 hours, Shores raised $2,261.95 – $1,200 from the cookie sale, $862 from the hat day and general contributions, and $200 from KICK.

    Science teacher Sarah Bronsema organized the fundraisers and promoted awareness through emails, which encouraged Shores’ staff to participate.

    From science teacher Nicole Helsel, whose son Jack had surgery to treat a rare itching condition, to the teachers at Shores via an email (published with her permission)

    "Thank you for the kind words, moral support, and huge gift [more than $2,200 was raised]! I hesitated sending this email because it can never reflect how much that meant to my family.

    "While my son was in surgery, I watched [broadcast speech teacher Dave Droski’s] touching commercial (and cried, a lot) and read emails from staff and students offering their support and prayers. [Science teacher] Sarah Bronsema should be a professional fundraiser – her efforts and organization amaze me. I heard what many of you did in your classrooms to encourage the students and make them aware, and I am just in awe.

    "The cookie sale was incredible. Thank you [culinary arts teacher Brent Mosley] and everyone who brought, bought, and sold all those cookies! We had a delicious care package made up by the science department, visitors come to the hospital, and meals sent to our home. Again, you will never know how these things made this situation easier for us.

    "After Jack’s successful surgery, his quality of life has definitely improved. He now eats and plays like he is making up for lost time. He still itches and struggles at night, but we are taking it one day at a time. There is still a lot unknown, but we hope that the worst is over.

    Thank you, again. Times like these really bring out the best in people and showed us how many friends we have out there."