According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, about 1 in every 285 children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer before they turn 20 years old 

One Kansas boy has been diagnosed twice in the past five years; thankfully, he has a small but mighty community backing him up.

Savannah Meier | @SavannahMeierTV

James Nunley, a 10-year-old from Olpe, Kansas has been diagnosed for a second time. 

At just 6 years old, James fought for his life against Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He credits his family as a big impact on finishing his treatments. 

“My family,” James said. 

“I would say that and sports,” Angela Nunley, James’ mom, said. “He was able to continue to be active the whole time which I think really helped with,”

“Not really for the first year,” James added. 

“For the first year it was kinda tough, he did everything he could, but I think a big part of it was we’re from a really small community, small school so it was like he had the whole town behind him,” Angela said.

That same community, as well as the whole town, is now supporting James through his second round of treatment. 

Many high school students were ready to offer James and his family their help. 

“I had some students that came the very next day and said, what can we do? Which is incredible,” Megan McGuire, teacher at Olpe Junior and Senior High Schools, said. 

“That’s what we’re trying to teach, especially in that leadership and civic engagement class is be a doer and be part of something bigger than yourself. So we’re trying to do that for James.” 

Students, organizers, and local residents of Olpe joined together to host a hamburger cookout at olpe high school’s blackout home game, with all money being raised going towards the Nunley family. 

In addition to wearing black, students at the schools were wearing orange bandanas for James in reference to the awareness ribbon.

Team James raised nearly $9,000 from the cookout, and said they are very grateful for all of their support from the community.