Students Raise Money to Cure M.D.

Today a group of sixth graders in McMinn County are remembering a student who died from muscular dystrophy last year.

Students at Niota Elementary are holding a fundraiser in memory of classmate Taylor Jerles and to help others suffering from the disease.

Jerles died at age 11 just before he started 6th grade in August. At Jerles request his classmates are helping raise money for his little brother Gavin who also has muscular dystrophy and they started the fundraising today with a softball game.

"He loved sports so we thought a softball game would be in remembrance of him," says Cole Plaster, a friend of Jerles.

It was teachers and faculty verses the whole sixth grade class at Niota Elementary because alll year long the students have been planning for the event to raise money in honor of Jerles.

"When I see stuff to help kids who have a disease or illness I do whatever I can for them," says Plaster.

Jerles mother is a teacher at the school and has been on leave to take care of his little brother Gavin who is still living with muscular distrophy. She says taking care of children with the disease is not only a hardship for her, but for families everywhere.

"I want people to be aware of what this does to not only his mother but everyone hes family and friends. Everyone has been affected by his life and death," says Renee Queen.

With donations from local businesses and Niota community members, the kids are raising money for Gavin and his mother and also hope to find a cure.

The students say this is not the only event they will have and on Labor day, they plan to take a trip to Chattanooga and donate the money to the Jerry Lewis Telethon.