CONNORSVILLE – A month-long fundraiser is helping one teacher in the Buckeye Local School District in his battle against cancer.

Twenty-five male faculty members and one student grew beards during No-Shave November for prostate cancer awareness, but the issue hit very close to home when Mike Tolliver, a special education teacher at Buckeye Local Junior High School for the past 16 years, was diagnosed in September.

Tolliver, 45, is on medical leave while he undergoes chemotherapy treatment for Stage 4 prostate and small cell cancer, but school officials said they wanted to help him in his fight.

Junior high Principal Jason Kovalski said he was looking for a fundraising activity and realized No-Shave November supported prostate cancer awareness, and the fact that one of their own was battling the disease led to the decision. Cans with pictures of the participants were lined up inside the school and people donated $1 for the best beard, but participants who shaved their growth early had to pony up $10. About $500 was raised at the conclusion, and high school Principal Coy Sudvary earned first place, while student David Crites was second. Rounding out the top five were junior high intervention specialist Glenn Chevalier; BLHS band Director William Stephens; and junior high math teacher Kevin Soos.

“The staff and students were very supportive of Mr. Tolliver,” Kovalski said, adding students also sent him cards. “We’re trying to plan a future fundraiser to help him until he’s well enough to come back to school. He is a great asset to our school, and we’re looking forward to him coming back.”

Tolliver, 45, who resides in Pennsylvania with his wife and two children, said he was completing his fifth of six rounds of chemotherapy and also underwent 15 days of radiation to eradicate his cancer. He was deeply moved by the outpouring of support by his colleagues and students.

“Mr. Kovalski called and told me what they were doing. It was overwhelming that they would do something like that for me,” he said, adding the Robert Morris University Hockey Team also held a fundraiser in his honor. “I really appreciate all the support they have given me. The district as a whole has been very supportive. My family and I have been blessed.”