Students at South Christian Elementary School are gearing up for state assessment testing next week and got a heartfelt surprise during a pep rally for it Thursday afternoon.
The fourth-graders have been missing their friend Zach Boyd, who was diagnosed with cancer in early March and has been out of school since then—Thursday, they got to perform a song during the pep rally that they believed was being recorded for Zach to watch later. What they found out was that Zach was there in-person for the event. Zach thought he was just there to deliver his teacher a picture of the cards he has received, so was caught by surprise when he got to see all his friends perform.
Zach and his classmates were more than happy to get to see each other after so much time, and his mother Laurel Cole Lunte says it was overwhelming to see the support for Zach.
Zach has osteosarcoma, with Lunte saying he still has a surgery to face and more chemotherapy to go, but they’re doing their best to stay positive.
Students have sent cards, written encouraging letters and all wore shirts Thursday that said “Support Squad: His Road is Our Road”. Between treatments and traveling to Vanderbilt Pediatrics in Nashville regularly, the family could use some support—a GoFundMe is up to help Zach. While the road will be tough, as far as Zach’s classmates are concerned, he’s got this battle already won.
