A FUNDRAISER TO HONOR A LOCAL TEACHER WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER

McKinleyville, CA- Honoring their own Fieldbrook School is fundraising to build a gymnasium in one of their most beloved educators honor. Students and staff want to name it after Bruce Hart. Hart is currently undergoing extreme chemotherapy as he battles bladder cancer. Bruce Hart has been teaching at Fieldbrook School for 35 years. He is retired now and instead of enjoying his time off he spends most his days fighting cancer. Long time friend and colleague, Dana Settelmayor recalls her memories of Hart. She said, "He is such a strong man. And to see him faced with such a challenge has been tough. It seemed very unfair." Settelmayor added, "He’s probably the most generous man i know. He is willing to give to anyone. And especially his students."27 years ago hart started the athletic program at Fieldbrook School. And this is his legacy, award winning teams that he coached for so long. His niece, Laura Schnyder told us, "We decided we wanted to make sure that his legacy and gift to the community would live on."And live on by building the “Bruce Hart Gymnasium.” Schnyder said, “his wife Carrie said we are going to build you a gym at fieldbrook school."Currently the multi-purpose room is used as a cafeteria and for music classes. This leaves little space for sports. Schnyder added, "its just barely the dimensions of a basketball court. So if anyone goes out of bounds they are hitting ways on either side."Schnyder tells us that he was not your average teacher. That he went above and beyond the California school curriculum. She added, "he would take the kids up to his cabin in the mountains and they would have to re-enact. They would have to live out and experience what it was like during the civil war days."His friends and colleagues told us that even after his retirement hart continued to coach and take students on field trips. Again the kick off fundraiser is tomorrow night from 6:30 to 10:30 at the Arcata Community Center. To learn more about the fundraiser just visit the website at the bottom of your screen and click on the “Bruce Hart Gym” tab.