BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — The Bowling Green and Anthony Wayne high schools came together to drum up support for a student member of the Bobcat marching band battling cancer.
Tyler Boise, who plays the saxophone, was practicing in June for the season when he started to feel off.
"We went to the emergency room thinking strep throat or just a cold," Tyler's mom, Katie Funk, said.
Tyler, 17, was then recommended to the oncologist where he learned he had stage two Hodkin lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
"His first thought was 'I'm going to disappoint the Bobcat band,'" Funk said.
But that couldn't be further from the truth. Not only did band members rally together for Tyler, but the community did, too.
"It wasn't just one person that did this," Funk said. "They all came together."
One of the people who helped is Karen Walters, a Bowling Green band mom who got together with others to buy bracelets and hand them out for a donation. Every penny went to the family.
The Anthony Wayne Generals even donated to support.
Many came to the football field wearing purple or violet, which represents Hodgkin lymphoma.
"We love that it doesn't matter what school you go to when it comes to supporting a kid when he's in a battle like this," Walters said.
While Tyler is battling cancer and on chemotherapy, he's trying his best to not miss a beat.
"It's been wonderful to see how he has pushed and has such a good attitude to be there for the band when he can be, even though sometimes his health makes it challenging," Walters said.
Funk is glad to see her son on the field and the community with him every step of the way.
"I have no words," she said. "It's very moving and I'm so happy he has that support from everybody in the community."
Funk said Tyler's condition is starting to improve and he will start radiation soon.
Walters said the bracelet fundraiser gathered at least $1,000 for Tyler's family.