Fundraiser For Longtime Wayland Teacher Battling Cancer

WAYLAND, MA — Wayland residents are coming together to support a fundraiser for a longtime Loker Elementary teacher who was recently diagnosed with a serious form of cancer.

Third-grade math teacher Mike O'Connor suffered what was thought to be a stroke in November. But by March, doctors discovered that O'Connor had an aggressive form of brain cancer. He's had three surgeries since March, and medical and other expenses are rising.

The GoFundMe fundraiser is seeking to raise $150,000 for O'Connor and his family. O'Connor's wife, Nancy, has lost her income while caring for her husband. The fundraiser had reached just under $62,000 by Thursday morning.

"Mike doesn’t compromise on those things that matter most," the fundraiser page says. "He is eager to grow and learn about himself and others along the way and has spent the last 23 years as an elementary school educator, planting countless seeds and mentoring students and staff to be kind, open-minded and supportive of one another.

"He is always there to lend a helping hand when the need arises and his positive nature and dedication to children have inspired thousands of students to make a positive impact on the world. However, it is Mike and his family that need our help now, and it is our turn to give back."