The saying on their shirts said it all: "Relentless."

More than 900 Chaminade College Preparatory High School and Middle School faculty members, students and relatives gathered at Warner Center Park in Woodland Hills Oct. 8 for a fundraising walk to fight blood cancers in support of eighth grader, Kelsey Burke, diagnosed with leukemia last June.

Red-shirted Team Kelsey participants, with Burke among them carrying a white cancer survivor balloon, raised over $70,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The exuberant team earned the distinction of being the largest walk team in the history of Light the Night.

"The Light the Night walk was a great example of the 'family spirit' we talk so much about here at Chaminade," said Suzanne Sincock, Chaminade College Preparatory volunteer relations coordinator. "It gave all the students a sense of purpose and direction with an eye to the future. It also showed them how a positive attitude can make all the difference in how we tackle life's challenges."

Mission awareness
Chaminade's student body has endured a trio of challenges beginning back in April when 7th grade religion teacher Judi Thompson, 65, was diagnosed with colon cancer. Burke's illness surfaced in June followed by news during the summer that eighth grade graduate Michael Fritschner became partially paralyzed after surfing in Hawaii.

Students have been offering their prayers and "presence" to each of the three as they consecutively became ill over the last half-year. Originally given only six weeks to live, Thompson credits her successful surgery and "inactive" cancer status to powerful prayer support, including intercessional prayers made to Blessed Father Chaminade.

"I feel very blessed and thankful for all the support," said Thompson, who hopes to return to Chaminade next year following the end of her chemotheraphy treatments. She was present at Chaminde's Mission Awareness Mass Oct. 18 where she felt the community's "overwhelming" outpouring of love.

Currently undergoing her last round of chemotherapy treatments at Children's Hospital, Burke has been in inspiration to her classmates, according to her eighth grade counselor and cheerleading coach, Heather Eaton.

"Her spirit has been illuminated by this experience. She's talked about how this has put her life and connection with God into perspective. She's been extremely touched by the school's support," said Eaton.

Kate Lospalluto, Burke's religion teacher and co-cheerleading coach, said the eighth grader has grown in her faith, evidenced by a "beautiful reflection" she gave to her classmates about battling leukemia. "It's made [the students] care about bigger issues than the material things they usually think about," commented Lospalluto.

An idea that snowballed
Team Kelsey began as an idea which "snowballed," according to Eaton. The Chaminade Middle School Cheer Squad hosted a rally in September to raise awareness for the Light the Night event and encourage participation.

Students sold over 600 "Relentless" bracelets toward their original fundraising goal of $13,000, $1,000 for every year of Burke's life. Funds collected for the Light the Night walk are channeled into patient support, research and community education programs.

The night of the two-mile fundraising walk, over half of the 60-member Chaminade faculty was among the hundreds of school student families who turned out for the 8th annual event. The team was honored at the walk with a certificate from Congressman Brad Sherman's office as well as a flag flown over the capital building.

"I have been associated with hundreds of teams in my 29 years as athletic director and coach at Chaminade, but I can safely say that Team Kelsey was the biggest and best that I have every been privileged to be a part of," said Mike Valentine, Chaminade Middle School acting principal.