Wearing Red for Xander

Xander is a young boy who lives in North Carolina, and is battling brain cancer, which has spread to his spine. Xander’s folks grew up in Montrose and went to Hendrick Hudson Schools.

Recently, when one of Buchanan-Verplanck Elementary School teacher Jeff Pynn’s class mothers, Suzanne Magliano, asked if Pynn’s class could show support for Xander by wearing the color red on March 20th, Pynn said yes. Red is Xander’s favorite color and his school in North Carolina was doing the same thing that Friday.

“I thought it would be better if I got the whole building involved to show support for Xander,” Pynn said, adding, “I only had one day to organize this show of support, so I informed the staff about Xander’s battle with cancer and they passed this information on to their classes.” The B-V PTA, Principal Joshua Cohen and his staff also helped get this message out to the parents.

“We had about ninety percent of the students wearing red this past Friday and most of the staff, too. Unfortunately, due to short notice we didn’t do any fundraising.” Fortunately there is an internet fundraising site set up to help meet Xander’s medical costs. Those who would like to donate to Xander’s cause can click HERE.

To view a local TV story about Xander’s school and community response, click HERE.

And, for a SLIDE SHOW more B-V community members wearing red for Xander, click HERE.

Photo Caption: B-V faculty and staff wore red on March 20th in support of a young North Carolina boy with cancer.