Raffle for boy inspires despite tragedy

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Johnathon Montiel is a second grader at Terre Town Elementary.

He was recently diagnosed with leukemia.

So to help out, the Terre Town community decided to hold a raffle with several items to help Johnathon's family pay for medical expenses, but during that gesture of good will, tragedy struck.

Myla Savant was the driving force behind the raffle. As a parent of a Terre Town student, she wanted to help anyway she could.

She was making wonderful strides, collecting items, raising money, and hope, but the school and the community were rocked when Savant unexpectedly died of a heart condition.

Needless to say her death was devastating to everyone, but her desire to to give hope has lived on.

"We want to accomplish, finish her dream in her honor," Steven Storey, president of the PTO said.

The raffle is still going on,sending a powerful message.

"The love and the hope that has evolved from it is just unimaginable," Cinda Taylor, the principal at Terre Town said.

It's a real example of love staying strong even after death.

The raffle concludes December 16.

You can buy a ticket by visiting Terre Town School during business hours, until 2pm. They're located at 2121 Boston Ave.

Tickets are $1. You can also purchase a wristband in support of Johnathon for $3.

Some of the other items include
-A Stone Brook black leather purse
-A Lia Sophia gold bracelet
-An Avon black makeup bag
-A Longaberger Colts cutting board
-Several cooking ingredients from Tastefully Simple
-Products from Celebrity Home
-Elige shower gel, body powder, and body creme
-Mary Kay fragrances, pedicure sets, and body shampoo.