In her fight with cancer, Upland Terrace Elementary fifth-grader Jessica Black has made several friends across the Salt Lake Valley.

What started as a class project has snowballed into a multi-community effort to help a fellow student feel positive during an otherwise unnerving time.

In an effort to raise funds for Jessica and her family, students at Upland Terrace created Christmas cards to be sold at the school, an REI store, and the annual Christkindlmarkt celebration at This Is The Place Heritage Park. While at Christkindlmarkt, Jessica’s classmates marched in the St. Martin’s Lantern Parade in her honor.

As the news of Jessica and her classmates quickly spread, others, including those she has never met, wanted to lend their support.

Through a teacher connection between the schools, Woodrow Wilson Elementary art specialist Rosie Mitchell enlisted her students in creating cards. Once completed, the cards were sent to Upland Terrace to be sold to benefit Jessica.

Thousands of dollars have been raised thus far thanks to the efforts of multiple classes and individuals. We wish Jessica all the best in her brave battle against cancer.