High school seniors in Bethlehem, New Hampshire raised $8,000 so they could take a class trip to the Adirondack Mountains in New York. But they made a remarkable decision when they heard that their school principal was in trouble.
Principal Courtney Vashaw felt the need to tell her students, all of whom she held a personal relationship, why she would be away from school for a long period of time. She had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Upon hearing the news the students held a vote and, by a unanimous decision, resolved to donate all of their hard-earned money to her treatment. She covers her eyes and fights tears as she says to them:
“It is very hard for me to accept help, and I have no idea what to say to you.”
“She's just very caring, very selfless, and we wanted to be selfless too,” said class treasurer Ian Baker.
“Every one of us has a connection with her, and she has given so much to us that we just wanted to give back,” explained class president Christopher Sirois.
Vashaw told WMUR that she teaches the students to be caring and compassionate to others, though she never expected to benefit from those lessons so directly.
The students will still go on a cheaper class trip to a more local venue, but have stated that they plan to hold more fundraisers for their principal.