Volleyball Fundraiser To Aid Ailing High School Sophomore

     The students and faculty of Bourne High School received a shock last month when they found out that sophomore Kyle J. Santos was diagnosed with leukemia.
     Kyle, a member of the junior varsity basketball team, seemed just as active and healthy as any other kid.
     “Everybody was shocked,” said Shawn C. Burke, Kyle’s guidance counselor at Bourne High School. “Some reacted by being scared, and others wanted to do everything they could,” Mr. Burke said. “Others were just really curious.”
     Senior Steven A. Tkowski, one of Kyle’s close friends, was one of the students who wanted to help.
     “I knew I wanted to do something, I just didn’t know what,” Steven said.
     One day, after playing volleyball in gym class with members of the girls’ varsity team, the idea came to him.
     Steven, along with some of his fellow students, decided to organize a match between 10 Bourne High School boys and the girls’ varsity team, and donate the profits from ticket sales to Kyle’s family.
     “It was just kind of a brainchild moment,” Steven said.
     The match will be held on Wednesday, May 14, at 7 PM in the Bourne High School gymnasium. Tickets are $5.
     Steven’s idea came along at a time when both teachers and students at Bourne High School were looking for an outlet to show their support for Kyle.
     “When this happened, all the members of the faculty were trying to figure out what we could do,” Mr. Burke said. “Kyle came along and filled that void.”
     Mr. Burke said that the universal rally of support for Kyle at the high school, which can at times be torn apart by cliques, has been impressive.
     “Situations like this really bring out the best in kids,” he said.
     However, Mr. Burke said it’s Steven’s efforts that stand out, not only for what he has done for Kyle since his diagnosis, but for what he did for him when he was just a new kid at the school trying to fit in.
     “The mentoring that he did before this all came about, that’s almost more impressive than what he and all the other kids are doing now,” Mr. Burke said. “He helped him through some stuff that had nothing to do with the cancer, which put him in a position to truly and sincerely lead the way on something like this in a way that is totally legit. To want to help a younger kid out when they’re just having your average teenage struggles—that’s significant.”
     For his part, Steven said the fundraising idea just made sense. He already knew he wanted to challenge the girls’ volleyball team, so figured, why not charge admission to the match and give the money to his friend.
     Steve is hoping for a big turnout at the fundraiser. In addition to ticket sales, there will be a concession stand at the game and the school will gladly accept donations.
     However, the event is about more than just money. He thinks Kyle will benefit just as much from his classmates’ show of support.
     “Let’s say we only raise $100 from the whole thing, I think the fact that he would know that there are people out there who are trying to help is just as important.”