De Pere community, Green Bay Packers rise up to help elementary teacher Krista LaPierre in cancer fight

DE PERE - Krista LaPierre was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer, but the fourth-grade teacher at Westwood Elementary isn’t fighting alone.

The entire city of De Pere has her back, not to mention the Green Bay Packers .

Wide receiver Bo Melton, running back Ellis Merriweather, linebacker Chris Russell and safety Evan Williams attended the West De Pere-De Pere football game Friday night and presented a check for $5,000 to the Sting Cancer programs at both De Pere and West De Pere, all of which will go to help support LaPierre.

LaPierre spoke to the crowd at halftime and thanked the community while standing with her husband, Mitch, and two young sons, Maverick and Beckett.

Maverick soon stole the show, and not just because he’s named after Tom Cruise’s character from “Top Gun,” a nod to LaPierre’s father who served in the Air Force.

He took the microphone from his mother. After a few seconds when it appeared like he might freeze up, and with the four Packers next to him, he finally delivered an important message.

“Go Pack Go,” Maverick shouted a few times as the crowd erupted in cheers and soon followed by chanting back.

It was a lighthearted moment during a night when so many showed their love and support for LaPierre.

A minute-to-win challenge collection added to the $5,000 the Packers chipped in. The 50-50 raffle winner donated all the winnings to her. The hard work of West De Pere’s DECA chapter through organized fundraisers was significant.

By the end of the night, it was announced that almost $28,000 was raised. The amount was so big the public address announcer repeated it again, perhaps for those who thought they must have heard it wrong.

Every single dollar going to a woman who has had an impact on so many kids, some who are now in high school and were in the stands Friday.

A friend also started a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $10,000 of its $20,000 goal since it was created in July.

“It means everything to us,” LaPierre said. “We know that West De Pere is really small, and they rally around anything that is going on. We feel honored that they have kind of scooped us up. As I’ve said before, West De Pere is everything to our family. I teach here. Our kids go to school here. My husband went here.

“It shows the values of the community and the people. We couldn’t ask for anything else.”

LaPierre — whose maiden name is Hawkinson — was one of the best high school basketball players in the state as a senior at Bay Port in 2008-09, when she averaged 14.6 points and 5.2 rebounds and was a first-team all-conference pick in the Fox River Classic.

She was an all-conference player in the Midwest Conference while at St. Norbert College.

Her husband was a tight end for the West De Pere football team when it won back-to-back WIAA Division 3 state championships in 2010 and 2011 while going a combined 28-0.

LaPierre is dealing with life one step at a time. She is undergoing chemotherapy and is not teaching this year while she continues her fight. She is doing as well as can be expected.

“I mean, it’s a really scary time,” she said. “It’s heavy. But it’s been really helpful to have the people around us supporting us, whether it’s a card or encouragement.”

LaPierre already had an appreciation for life. She didn’t need a reminder, but what she’s dealing with serves as one.

“I think it’s really taken me back to my roots of my faith and God and importance of family,” LaPierre said. “The importance of just loving and being loved and the community that is around you.”

LaPierre was part of the conversation in the postgame huddle with the West De Pere players and coaches after their 49-0 win over De Pere.

They were informed how much money was raised for a teacher who has a lot of people in her corner, from family and friends to those just learning about her for the first time.

“To be able to be a little part of her recovery for Mrs. LaPierre, the money that this community raised for her, what a testament to the heart of this community,” West De Pere coach Chris Greisen said. “I hope she fights as hard as the Phantoms out here, which I’m sure she will.”

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: De Pere community, Green Bay Packers rise up to help elementary teacher Krista LaPierre in cancer fight