High school students rally to help math-rapping teacher facing cancer

Some things are more important than prom.

OK, almost everything is more important than prom. But one doesn't always expect teenagers to realize it.

A group of high school students in Deltona, Fla., is using some of the money the kids would normally spend on their prom festivities to help a math teacher who is battling cancer for the third time, WESH reports.

Under normal circumstances, the junior class at Pine Ridge High helps put on the prom and organizes fundraisers for the graduating students' big night. This year, the organizers renamed their group "Team Charlie" in honor of math teacher Charlie Lundell.

It's unknown exactly what kind of money will be raised for Lundell, though Fox35 reports that thousands of dollars have already been raised. In addition to fundraisers, including a Dancing With the Teachers event, the students will apparently "do without some of the decorations and other extras" so they may help out their teacher, WESH reports.

Junior class president Katie Buday told WESH that Lundell "really cares about helping people learn and really wants us to be our full potential." He and his wife are expecting twins, according to Fox35.

Lundell, who can be seen in the accompanying video bravely performing a "math rap" at a school assembly, has taught at Pine Ridge since the school opened in 1994.

After the fundraising began, students learned that another teacher is also seriously ill. Students say the fundraisers will be ongoing and will go toward both teachers, WESH reports.

Follow Mike Krumboltz on Twitter (@mikekrumboltz).