Raeleigh Jane McCartha was diagnosed with Neuroblastomia Cancer in January at just 15 months old.

“It has been hard,” said Rachel McCartha, Raeleigh Jane’s mother. “Our faith in God has gotten us through, definitely. We’ve also gotten an incredible amount of support coming in from family, friends, the communities that we’re from and people that don’t even know us. They’ve supported us in unimaginable ways.”

One avenue of support for Raeleigh Jane came from students at Charles Henderson High School (CHHS) who heard about Raeleigh Jane’s condition and wanted to help.

Alyssa English, a junior at CHHS, came up with the idea for a pajama day to raise funds for Raleigh Jane.

“She’ been fighting a hard battle going through chemotherapy and radiation,” English said. “It’s very expensive too, so I thought it would be a good idea to do a “PJs for RJ” day.”

The fundraiser allowed CHHS students to wear pajamas to school for the day on the condition that they bring $2 to help fund Raeleigh Jane’s treatments.

The event, run by the high school’s Future Business Leaders of America group, had raised $300 by noon, and English said donations were still coming in.  The FBLA will be taking the money raised to the McCartha family on Tuesday.

“I think that it’s amazing that these kids have reached out to a family in need and other children,” McCartha said. “It’s great to see them taking a lead role. We appreciate all the support that’s been shown to Raeleigh and also bringing awareness of Childhood Cancer. It’s so underfunded. We don’t want to see another family have to go through this.”

While in Birmingham to deliver the funds, members of the FBLA will also give out stuffed animals to other children at the hospital.

“We’re having a stuffed animal drive for some of the other kids there that don’t necessarily get as many toys,” English said.

Community members who would like to help in the effort to raise funds for Raeleigh Jane and her family can bring donations to the school’s front office. There is no deadline for donations.

Raeleigh Jane also has an account designated for her at First Citizens Bank in Luverne.