Fifteen-month-old Kyce Burns of Hillsboro was diagnosed with a brain tumor last month, and Hillsboro High School secretary Angie Juillerat is working to raise funds to support him through a raffle of more than $4,000 worth of items.

Kyce underwent extensive surgery this month to have the tumor removed and will remain in the hospital throughout Christmas and beyond. According to his parents, Tre’ and Rachael Burns, Kyce is required to undergo therapy and will need more surgeries in the future.

“This family is hurting, and it’s Christmas time, and they’re not even going to be home with their family so it’s rough, and I hate it for them,” said Juillerat. “My heart just goes out, and I think that’s the way everyone in this community has felt.”

Three coolers – small, medium and large – of donated products will be raffled off, and tickets will be available for $1 each at a number of local businesses until Dec. 17. Three winners will be drawn during the halftime of the boys Hillsboro versus Greenfield varsity basketball game at Hillsboro High School on Dec. 17.

A split-the-pot raffle will also be conducted throughout the day of the game with tickets going for $1 each. The winner will also be announced during the boys’ varsity game at halftime.

“Every bit of the proceeds is going back to that baby to help in his recovery,” said Juillerat. She said she hopes to raise $5,000. “That’s a nice chunk of money to help, and if we raise more than that, I’ll probably ball my eyes out,” she said.

Juillerat said names and numbers of people who purchase tickets are being taken so they do not have to be present at the drawing to win. “We are trying to go live on Facebook during the event, and the family will be there,” she said.

She said when the time comes to support others “the people here in this community are amazing.”

“We have a great town and people who genuinely care, so I’m super grateful and I can’t wait to finally get a total on Saturday once everything is said and done and see where we are with it,” she said. “It’s just that we’ve all come together, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Tickets are available for the raffle from the following businesses and individuals: Mimi’s Kitchen, Shabby Moose, Dainty Daisey, Cundiff’s Flowers, Maher Medical Massage, Grub n’ Monkey (Elks), The Times Gazette, Juillerat, Shonee West, Casey and Katie Basford, Shellie Young, Bo and Monica Burns and Mandy Hollen Hall, all in Hillsboro; Mark Bayless at Highland District Hospital and Jim Juillerat at the Hillsboro Post Office.

Reach John Hackley at 937-402-2571.