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IU McKinney students are rallying around one of their own by helping to bring awareness to a fundraiser.

Karie Marchese Wong, wife of evening division student Kyle Wong, was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer on August 14. The cancer began in her breast, and has spread to her hip, spine, and lymph nodes. The couple has two children. Karie has started radiation treatments, but the family needs help with medical expenses.

IU McKinney’s newly formed “The Evening Student Union” or TESU,  is supporting the “GoFundMe” account created for the Wong family. The fundraising goal is $50,000.

“Like many night students, Kyle made the transition in May from a full-time job with benefits to working as a law clerk at a firm here in town for the summer,” said TESU vice president Tarah Baldwin. “Many of us know that we have to get legal experience to get jobs as lawyers upon graduation. No one could have foreseen that in late August his young wife would be facing this fight.”

While it’s true, Kyle said, that he initially wasn’t eligible for benefits in his clerkship, his firm has extended him a full-time clerk position with benefits, which began in September.

“We are truly blessed by the overwhelming love and support from my family, friends, the law school, and the firm. Without all of their help, I am not sure how we would get through this difficult situation,” Kyle said.