When things started to go down for a Gibraltar Area Schools family, you saw a group of high school students rise to the occasion to help. Phoenix Hatch is a fifth grader at Gibraltar beating the odds as she deals with the effects of Marshall-Smith syndrome. Those diagnosed with MSS often have abnormal bone formation, difficulty breathing, unknown body fractures, and other issues. According to the Marshall-Smith Syndrome Research Foundation, most children die in early infancy and often by three years old due to respiratory complications. Phoenix has been in the hospital for the last two months due to complications suffered following a surgical procedure. When Maureen Mercier, a football team parent, asked the Gibraltar National Honor Society to reprise last year’s bake sale to help the family, senior Chloe Alexander and other students jumped at the opportunity.

After raising approximately $700 to support cancer-related causes last year, the Gibraltar National Honor Society raised over $1,000 to help the Hatch family pay for some of their medical bills and other expenses. Alexander says a dodgeball tournament is also in the works for November with all proceeds also going to support the Hatch family. You can listen to our full interview with Alexander, where we also cover her current volleyball season and upcoming basketball season, by clicking this link.