Greendale school hosts walk-a-thon

GREENDALE (WITI) - Two students battling serious illnesses got a big boost from hundreds of guardian angels from Greendale. On Monday, June 4th, the entire student body from St. Alphonsus School marched in a walk-a-thon to raise money for their families.

It was the school's first annual Guardian Angel Walk-a-Thon to help 3K student, Bryce Schueller, and seventh-grader, Audrey Marcott.

"This idea came about at one of our staff meetings. It's not about us. It's about reaching out to others in need, so we're really happy to do that," said St. Alphonsus school principal Pat Wadzinski.

"Bryce has severe aplastic anemia. It's a blood disorder," said Bryce's father Steven Schueller.

Bryce, who is four-years-old, recently received a bone marrow transplant from his little sister, who's two.

"We've been in the hospital nine weeks," Schueller said.

Audrey, who's 13, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

"Audrey has a plexiform neurofibroma, which a lot of people have, but hers is in an area in her neck that cannot be removed,” said Audrey's mother Liz Marcott.

The Guardian Angel walk is meant to spread awareness of their conditions and to raise money to help the families pay for medical bills. Each of the more than 400 students who took part collected pledges.

"I think I raised $150," said seventh-grader Alissa Volz, who is also Audrey's classmate. "It's really important to me that she's cured because we're friends."

"It's not even about always the money - it's just how good people have become," Schueller said.

"Thank you very much that you're doing this. It makes me feel very happy," Audrey said.

By the end of the day, St. Alphonsus School raised close to $10,000 for the two families. Because of its success, the school plans to host the Guardian Angel walk as an annual event.