NEW PALESTINE — Officials with New Palestine Junior High School are hosting a special “Blue Out” game to help raise funds and awareness for principal Keith Fessler.
Fessler has been fighting colon cancer for two years now and his school family wants to send him, his wife and their three sons on a much needed vacation as well as help with medical expenses.
On Wednesday, Oct. 6 the school will sponsor a “Blue Out” game, the color that represents colon cancer. The NPJH game, their final of the season, will be played at New Palestine High School at 6 p.m.
Organizers are hoping to have a sea of blue at the game. The school’s NPJH student council will be selling “Fessler Fight” shirts and everything blue they can find for students and adults to purchase with proceeds going to Fessler.
“I’m just floored,” Fessler said, “I’m not surprised by what the New Pal community and others are doing, I’m just humbled that it’s for me.”
Codi Strong, NPJH athletic secretary, who has been organizing the fundraiser wanted to bring light to Fessler’s ongoing fight. She and others put together a gofundme fundraiser and raised $15,000 in the first 20 hours. The figure is currently just over $18,500.
“I’m not surprised with our community and it just shows you how much people care for Mr. Fessler,” Strong said.
Fessler was blown away by the generous outpouring of support, he said.
“I’ve seen our community rise up a million times supporting numerous people in this position and it’s just like, ‘wow, now it’s about me,’ and I really feel that and it’s so humbling and appreciated,” he said.
Fessler, was an administrator and principal at NPHS for 13 years before he was diagnosed with colon cancer and began 19 months of chemotherapy in November 2019.
District officials switched Fessler, who was principal at NPHS and Jim Voelz, principal at NPJH, when Fessler was on a leave because the high school is undergoing renovations and needed a principal on hand. Fessler returned to work at NPJH in March and is pushing through, working full time as he continues to go through treatments and fight cancer.
“Right now I feel good and I’m focusing on that,” Fessler said. “I’m taking it a day at a time, literally.”
Still, Strong said the family has talked for the last two years about taking a trip when “Keith rings the bell” and is cancer free. But, Strong and others in the community know it’s been a tough two-year battle for Fessler and his family and want them to take a much needed trip now.
Medical bills have forced travel for the family to take a back burner, so Strong and others want to make sure the family gets a nice break together as soon as possible and will give all funds raised to the family.
Strong noted on the gofundme page, the Fessler’s had plans to honeymoon in Mexico years ago, but a hurricane hit the resort changing their plans. It’s been a family joke with their boys that they someday will get back to Mexico for that trip.
“We hope we can make this dream, or another one of their choice, a reality for the Fesslers,” Strong said.
Fessler said he feels fortunate, beyond anything he could have ever imagined to be supported at home, among family, friends and also in the New Palestine school community.
“I feel very lucky because I feel totally supported in every aspect of my life,” Fessler said.
Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can visit https://gofund.me/8f29d96d or attend the game at NPHS Wednesday, Oct. 6.
