Roosevelt Student's Senior Project Honors Breast Cancer Victim's Memory

The Times Herald recently profiled Roosevelt Alternative School senior Alan Fraelich, whose senior project is dedicated to the memory of his neighbor – a woman he referred to affectionately as "mom" – who died of breast cancer last year. 

Fraelich created a "mitten tree" to encourage his fellow students to donate hats, scarves, gloves and mittens that he would then take to the Salvation Army – an organization that Fraelich says helped his neighbor's nine children when they needed help most.

"Everybody who lived on the street we lived on, we all looked at her as a mom," Fraelich told the Herald. "We all called her mom. She had nine children of her own that all lived with her and she had to take care of by herself."

School administrators were so impressed with Fraelich's project that they opened the collection efforts up to the public. Donations (including cash) can be dropped off at or sent to:

Roosevelt Alternative School
1161 Markley Street
Norristown PA 19401

Donations are being accepted through Dec. 21.

"If we could find a cure to something like [breast cancer] we would have never lost her in the first place," Fraelich told the Herald. "Everybody needs to fight. Every little bit counts."

Read more about Fraelich and his efforts here.