'Neighbors' in Montrose Rally in Red to Support North Carolina Boy with Cancer

Xander Kuchinski is 7.

He lives in South Charlotte, NC, and he’s battling cancer in his brain and spine.

Last Friday, students and staff at Buchanan-Verplanck Elementary School—almost 700 miles away—showed support for Xander by wearing the color red.

Xander’s folks grew up in Montrose and went to Hendrick Hudson Schools, district officials said.

Red is Xander’s favorite color and his school and community in North Carolina were doing the same thing March 20:

“Exciting day around here! Xander Day all around the school and community! Xander and the whole family were able to make an appearance! Treatment is going well (wont know results for several more weeks) but please pray he gets his appetite back soon and gains some weight,” Xander’s supporters wrote on his GoFundMe page.

The New York folks wanted to join in.

“I thought it would be better if I got the whole building involved to show support for Xander,” said teacher Jeff Pynn, who learned about Xander from one of his class mothers, Suzanne Magliano.

Xander’s mother Denise Kuchinski told a North Carolina TV station that the family appreciates all the support.

“The love has just been so great. We really have felt it,” Kuchinski said to WCNC.com.

A fundraising effort for Xander’s medical bills has reached $69,000 of its $100,000 goal. If you would like to donate, click http://www.gofundme.com/xanderk.

Read more and connect to the district’s post on Patch about it: Wearing Red for Xander

Photo: B-V faculty and staff wore red on March 20th in support of a young North Carolina boy with cancer/Hendrick Hudson School District