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Brick by Brick: Huntertown Elementary Rallies Behind First Grader Battling Cancer
<p>A small act of kindness can turn into something much bigger. That’s exactly what’s happening at Huntertown Elementary, where students and staff are coming together to support one of their own—a seven-year-old boy facing a tough battle with cancer.</p>
<h2>A Shocking Diagnosis</h2>
<p>Taylor Long initially thought her son’s leg pain was nothing more than growing pains. Kids complain about aches all the time, right? But this time, it was different.</p>
<p>Doctors found a mass in young Wyatt’s femur—osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer. It was a gut-wrenching moment for the family. Instead of worrying about school or playdates, Wyatt was suddenly facing chemotherapy at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.</p>
<p>“There were some tough days, it hit us all really hard,” Long said. But the hardest part? Explaining it to Wyatt.</p>
<p>“We just told him his bones were sick and we were going to do everything we could to make them better,” she said.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11259" src="https://budgyapp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Huntertown-Elementary-school-fundraiser.jpg" alt="Huntertown Elementary school fundraiser" width="703" height="286" /></p>
<h2>The School Steps Up</h2>
<p>When news of Wyatt’s diagnosis spread through Huntertown Elementary, it sent shockwaves through the community.</p>
<p>“It just rocked the whole school,” said Principal Casey Stansifer. “We knew we had to do something.”</p>
<p>So they did. Enter ‘Legos for Wyatt.’</p>
<h2>Legos for Wyatt: More Than Just a Fundraiser</h2>
<p>Fundraising for cancer support isn’t new to Huntertown Elementary. They do it every year. But this time, it was personal.</p>
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<li>Each grade level is competing to raise the most money.</li>
<li>The winning grade gets to pick a Lego set for Wyatt to enjoy during his hospital treatments.</li>
<li>Every dollar raised beyond that goes directly to Wyatt’s family.</li>
</ul>
<p>And the kids? They’re all in.</p>
<p>“This year, first grade alone has exceeded our entire efforts from last year,” Stansifer said. “They’re so excited to help because they know exactly who it’s for.”</p>
<h2>The Power of Community Support</h2>
<p>For the Long family, the outpouring of love has been overwhelming.</p>
<p>“Just knowing we have that kind of support, it’s insane,” Long said. “It’s amazing.”</p>
<p>Wyatt still has a long road ahead, with weeks of chemotherapy to go. But he’s not alone. Not by a long shot.</p>
<p>Huntertown Elementary will announce the final fundraising totals on Thursday morning, but one thing is already clear: even the smallest bricks can build something truly incredible.</p>