Clovis East holds fundraiser for Austin Ly’s family after fatal crash

CLOVIS, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The school Fresno teenager Austin Ly attended joined forces with the restaurant he used to work at to raise funds for the 16-year-old after he was killed while riding his motorcycle in Fresno one week ago.

Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant and Cantina organized Wednesday’s fundraiser, which was hosted at Clovis East High School during the students’ lunchtime. The restaurant cooked up tacos, burritos, and quesadillas to fundraise in support of Austin Ly’s family.

“We’re just thrilled with the community support,” Reagan Educational Center Principal Ryan Eisele said.

“[Guadalajara] set up here during lunch to sell food – and the line is just super long here to support Austin and the family.”

Ly was killed while riding his motorcycle on Sept. 10; his passing left a lasting impression on classmates. Principal Eisele says there has been a noticeable sadness on campus lately.

“It’s so tough for students to deal with,” Eisele said. “One day they’re with their friend in class and the next day they’re trying to process what happened.”

Eisele says the entire campus has come together to console and comfort each other. He says students have been encouraged to use the various mental health support providers and resources available including counselors and school psychologists.

“It’s just hard to predict what the ripple effects are after a loss like this,” Eisele said. “But we do feel supported by our mental health support team in our district, we’re just we’re very fortunate for that.”

Ly’s classmates and coworkers all showed up and showed out to raise funds, but Eisele says it’s not all about the food or even the money.

“Some of the great things I’ve heard in line here from our students is, we’re not here for the food. We’re here to support Austin,” Eisele said. “To me, that’s really what it’s all about.”

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