Kourtney Smith, 7, has spent the past year battling liver cancer. His school, Pine Grove Elementary, is helping the family through fundraisers.

Pine Grove Elementary School students and staff are banding together to help one of their own as the school year ends.

Kourtney Smith, a 7-year-old PGE student, has been courageously battling liver cancer and other health issues during the past year.

Following a recent surgery to remove half of his liver, Kourtney’s family learned the other half of his liver has stopped working. Kourtney will be added to a transplant list soon, and while he has remained brave, the battle has taken a serious toll on his body.  

In addition to the stress of a sick child, the family has felt the economic strain of chemotherapy and surgeries. Pine Grove Elementary School has decided to hold fundraisers to help with the related expenses of his battle, according to family and fliers.

There will be seven fundraising opportunities at PGE between now and the end of the school year.

This Wednesday, April 30, there will be a bake sale at the school. All of the items will be 50 cents. There will be bake sales on May 7 and May 14, too.

Every remaining Friday this school year, May 2, 9, 16 and 23, students and faculty will have an opportunity to wear a “Cap for Kourtney.” Students and staff will be able to pay 50 cents to wear a hat on these days, with proceeds going to benefit their friend. Also Friday, May 2, and May 16, students and faculty may participate in a donut breakfast for $1 each.

Tickets are on sale for “Kiss a Cow or Pig for Kourtney.” Tickets are $1 each and allow purchasers to nominate any teacher to kiss a cow or pig.

The funds raised from the purchases of baked goods and tickets will go to help Kourtney and his family.

“The people at the school, the bus shop, everyone that has helped. I just want to say thank you for what you are doing. There are so many people coming together to help and I want to thank them,” said Gloria “Peanut” Battle, Kourtney’s grandmother, a bus driver with the Lowndes County School System.

PGE parents are asked to send their child with money to participate in these fundraisers. School teachers and administrators will participate.  

His grandmother also wanted the community to know, “Today is Kourtney’s birthday, so if you see him today make sure to wish him a happy birthday!”