After the Highlands High School community was shocked by the news of a beloved teacher’s brain cancer diagnosis, they quickly took action.
Students and teachers at Highlands have been dedicated to raising money for Kurt Landsberg, a longtime English teacher and soccer coach. He was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
With the help of faculty, students launched a T-shirt drive to help Landsberg. Shirts sold for $15, with larger sizes going for about $20. After selling about 220 shirts, the fundraiser netted about $2,500.
All proceeds went toward the Landsberg family.
On Thursday, one of the last days of in-person classes for Highlands, teachers and students who bought a shirt wore them in support of Landsberg.
Their work is not yet done.
Many used the day to post to their social media pages linking to a GoFundMe account for the Landsberg family. That effort has raised close to $37,000.
About 200 people in the Highlands School District wore their T-shirts Thursday, said Nathan Johnson, a fellow teacher. About 140 of those were at Highlands High School.
The T-shirt wearers congregated for a group photo Thursday afternoon outside of the high school. The Highlands choir sang a few songs, including “Amazing Grace,” directed by Michael Zeiler.
“I have been going out to see Kurt and delivering food to him, his brother and his family,” said Johnson, adding that English teacher Ryan Wilpula take turns delivering food that Highlands staff members contribute each week. Wilpula created a a district wide sign-up for a food train, Johnson said.
“I always tell (Landsberg) that ‘you’re so loved in that building as a coach and a teacher.’ He keeps saying, ‘I just don’t understand it. It’s mind-blowing that people care so much.’ ”
On Thursday, Johnson sent Landsberg photos and videos.
Johnson had a message for him, too: “This is who you matter to.”
