ROCK HILL, SC (WBTV) – We can all have a personal relationship with someone who is living with or battling cancer.
People with this disease are often inundated with medical bills which can accumulate over time. This is the story of a single mother of five children here in the Rock Hill area.
In May this year, he was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer. The cancer spread from her colon to her lungs.
She says that she still has a blood clot in her lung from cancer. However, mom is still smiling and today she had reason to smile even more as the students of a local high school gave her a huge surprise.
Enthusiastic murmurs from Legion Collegiate Academy erupted in the gym on Friday.
“We were having a meeting. We usually have it every Friday,” said Liam Graham, a senior.
However this meeting was different. Students spent November raising money for this lady, Latracey Barber. It was all part of No Shave November.
“It’s been frustrating and trying to rebuild and stay strong,” Barber said. “Knowing you have stage four, everyone always thinks of death when they hear stage four.”
Lance Roberts, a character class teacher at the school who put it together, met Barber through the Levine Cancer Center. He says that he went to the center of Rock Hill one day in search of someone who would bless the gift that would eventually come. He had no luck until he spoke to a receptionist.
The receptionist took her to a man who asked the nurses who would be the best person for such a gift. After much thought, they came up with a name.
“I really wanted it to go to someone who lives in this community,” Roberts said. “He talked to the nurses and they said we had a perfect man. And that’s how I met Latracy.”
He told the students that whoever donates the most money will be able to get his beard shaved. So after their names were called one by one, they lined up and got to work. Altogether six students had the honor of shaving Roberts’ beard. Glad to see him go.
“To be honest, I wasn’t one bit worried. I really wasn’t. That was a great bunch of kids who represented all the top donors,” he said.
Graham was one of the students who donated $85 of their own money. He makes money helping a company with Christmas decorations during the holiday season.
Graham said, “I’m just a kid in high school, I’m not going to spend it on something that I really need, so it’s great to be able to give it to someone who needs the money.” needed.”
Then, it was time for the big reveal. A large check for about $3,000 for the barber and his family. Barber becomes emotional to learn that she will be able to buy Christmas presents for her five children this year.
“Today as I listened to the cheers it was like I forgot I even had cancer. I was like, ‘Is this for me?'” said Barber.
Tears fell as the gathering ended and the students took a moment of silence to remember those who fought or went through cancer. Mariah Carey’s song “Hero” played over the speakers as students and teachers hugged each other. As for the barber, he saw that hundreds of students were expected behind him.
“I couldn’t stop crying. I was just like thank you. Thank you. For having so many of them encouraging me and getting that strength from someone else… I love it,” she said.
Roberts says it’s great to see her students use what they learn here in their classroom and share it with the world.
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