By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The focus of homecoming week typically is on the pep rally and football game, but students at Kingwood Christian School chose to support something a little more meaningful.

Throughout the school’s homecoming week in early October, Kingwood students worked to raise money for the Carly Chandler Foundation, which was founded to help a Pelham girl battling the rare neurological disorder CDKL5.

Carly Chandler is the 2-year-old daughter of Pelham police officer Dustin Chandler and his wife, Amy. As a result of the disease, Carly battles symptoms ranging from frequent seizures to severe gastrointestinal disorders and visual impairments.

After hearing about the family’s challenges with battling the disorder, the KCS student body decided to “reach out to them and help in a practical way,” said KCS Principal Ruth Gray.

After donating money throughout the week, the students set a new fundraising record by raising more than $3,300 to donate to help cover the Chandler family’s expenses associated with caring for Carly. KCS students and leaders presented the donations to the Chandler family during an Oct. 11 pep rally at the school.

“We are very proud of our students and their record-giving week, and pray that Carly will continue to make progress toward a healthy and happy life,” Gray wrote in an email.

The donation came a day before more than 20 locals participated in a skydive and motorcycle ride fundraiser to help raise more than $10,000 for the International Foundation for CDKL5 Research on behalf of the Chandler family.