Dodging cancer for Karen: students hold dodgeball tournament fundraiser

Students at Troy High School rally around a classmate diagnosed with cancer by holding a dodgeball tournament to raise money for their friend.

Teams of blue, yellow, red and orange. But they've all got the same phrase: Dodging Cancer for Karen. The Troy High School Junior was also at the tournament but she wasn't in any of the colors listed. She was in purple and blown away by their amazing gesture.

Karen Barrientos was diagnosed with stage three non-Hodgkins lymphoma. She's been out of school for a bit but her classmates haven't forgotten her. They played dodgeball not just because it's fun but also to raise money to help Karen dodge cancer.

"We're so united as a school that I don't think we've ever experienced something like this before," Amna Tayyabi said.

"Knowing you helped someone in your community makes you feel so good. It makes you feel like you've been a part of changing someone's life and that's the best thing you can do," Jahnavi Gudi said.

On Monday, 460 students donated $10 each and formed 38 teams to play. So far, they raised $8,000 of their $20,000 goal to help her dodge the disease. Teachers were there, like Harriet Clark the school's Personal Communications Teacher. She said she couldn't put a value on how much what they've done means.

"I don't know if there's an amount of money possible for us to raise that would as much to me as we've seen their giving spirit come through," Clark said.

On Friday, the dodgeball tournament comes to an end as the final four teams will go to battle against the faculty.

"they are so excited about what all they can do for this student and that's so heartwarming."

These students say with each tee shirt worn, and each ball tossed they hope Karen can dodge cancer for good.

Although the final four game this Friday is for students and faculty, you can still help by sending or dropping off donations to Troy high school. You can also use the hashtag #DC4Karen on social media.

The high school's address is 4777 Northfield Parkway, ATTN Harriet Clark, Troy 48098.