MONTGOMERY, Ohio -- Students at Sycamore High School cheered on each other in a dizzying layup competition Thursday. But more importantly, they were cheering on one of their favorite teachers, Randy Lothrup.
Lothrop's daughter, Liz, now 21, was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor in June, a result of radiation treatment for her leukemia.
"I think anybody that knows Liz would tell you that she is a girl that just always seems to have a smile on her face," Lothrop said. "And like any of us, she has her weak moments, but she relies a tremendous amount on her faith, and she wakes up every morning and has a thankful heart and just knows that God has a plan for her life. It may not be going the way she'd like it to for a 21-year-old girl, for sure, but she recognizes that there is good that can come from any situation if we allow God to work through us."
Liz Lothrop, at center, was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor, the result of radiation treatment for her leukemia. Photo provided
Lothrup's students wanted to help the 29-year teaching veteran and his daughter. They created a week's worth of fundraising events, from T-shirts sales to Thursday's Layups for Liz challenge (at $1 a try, it was a spin on the Layups for Lauren challenge for Lauren Hill, in which participants spin around to make themselves dizzy and then try to make a layup).
All of the events lead up to the school's Hoops for Hope basketball game Saturday against Mason High School, at Mason. The girls game starts at 2 p.m., and Lauren Hill's mother will speak at half-time. There will be a second round Tuesday night when the boys teams face off.
Organizers hope to raise $20,000.
"We had originally offered to give it to Mr. Lothrup for his medical bills, which are obviously extensive and crazy, but being the selfless guy he is, he denied it and told us he wanted it to go to Duke," student Maggie Skwara said.
Lothrop said Duke University is on the cusp of finding a cure, and that, along with support from his students, gives his family hope.
Students said it's the least they could do for their favorite teacher.
"Just his love for his students and everyone, it really stuck out to me because I know I can go to him for anything and he'll always help me no matter what," Lydia Deppert said.
Hoops for Hope
Saturday, Jan. 23, 2 p.m.
Girls basketball game
Sycamore vs. Mason at Sycamore
*Lauren Hill’s mother will speak at the gameTuesday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Boys basketball game
Sycamore vs. Mason at Sycamore
