MHS has raised about $1,500 to support Ephraim Lanki. The school has a donations box in the Student Activities Center and shirts in the athletics office for $20.

The shirts feature the phrase “Fight like a Tiger” on the back with Ephraim’s initials in the top left along with “M Strong” on the front.

Every penny raised will be donated to the Lanki family to help offset the costs of medical bills, travel expenses, etc.

Ephraim was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer when doctors found six tumors on the back of his brain and two more along his spine. He has had three surgeries and chemotherapy so far.

Taste Inc. set up a Taste Tea on Wheels Truck that would donate a portion of their sales to the Lanki family.

Ephraim is receiving treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Their website says that St. Jude’s treatments have pushed the survival rate of children with cancer from 20% to more than 80% since it opened.

Lanki said Ephraim strongly believes he will win the battle against cancer, that he has set a goal for himself. His goal is to become a pastor. In fact, he’s already started his mission. He introduced God to his older brother.

“He saved me.” said Lanki of his younger brother.

“Thank you for all the support. It means a lot to me and my family, even the little things [like] ‘How is your brother doing?’ [It] makes me feel better because it shows appreciation and that they actually care. Thanks [to] those who have been praying for my little bro and we will be praying for them, too,” Lanki said.

This article place second in the news category in the public school division of the 2017 Hawaii High School Journalism Award Content.