Two Lafayette Central Catholic students are fighting side-by-side against leukemia, but they’re not alone in their battle. Last fall, Lafayette Central Catholic senior Patrick Mackey helped organize donations and garner support from the community for the family of Cooper Fulmer, the brother of senior Gavin Fulmer. Mackey learned that Cooper was beginning his treatments for leukemia, a condition Mackey takes very seriously due to the loss of his 15-year-old sister Clair to the disease in June 2011. In light of that, during the regional game against Lafayette Central Catholic last fall, Mackey and several other students made donations and lent their support to the Fulmer family.
However, a troubling discovery was made in March that gave Mackey a new outlook on the disease. During a blood drive in March, Mackey was found to have a low hemoglobin count, and it was soon medically confirmed that he is suffering from lymphoblastic leukemia – a more common and less aggressive form of cancer. Fortunately, he is now receiving treatments and is said to have a good prognosis.
The Winamac High School Student Council soon caught wind of his condition, and with an overwhelming vote, the council decided to hold a month-long donation drive in Mackey’s honor. The council has since scheduled a number of events, including t-shirt and wristband sales, donation buckets, and a variety of other activities.
The t-shirts offered for sale at $10 each are printed with “Coop and Pat Fight Back to Back”, and half the proceeds will go toward the Mackey fund. On May 10, the council is holding a school breakfast with any and all donations to go toward the fund, and on May 18 a bake sale will be held during the boys varsity baseball game. On May 12, a Mother’s Day brunch will take place at the Knights of Columbus hall, where football players will auction off their time and abilities to perform yard work, wash cars, or perform other tasks.
As the pair fights side-by-side against the disease, school administrators, students, parents, and other members of the community are showing their support in any way possible for the pair as they bravely battle leukemia. Join in the effort and attend these events, or purchase a t-shirt to show your support for Patrick Mackey and Cooper Fulmer.
