By Parnia Mazhar
Staff Writer
Costa students and faculty held a surpirse celebration in the Mustang Mall today during lunch to celebrate the life and career of Thanatology in Literature and Humor in Literature teacher John Heideman, who has stage four prostate cancer and plans to retire this year after 39 years at Costa.
The event was organized by Costa seniors Noelle Thomas, Dillon Patel and Luke Jelmini who spent upwards of three weeks planning the surprise. More than 300 students and faculty took part in the celebration, which included hundreds Heidemans’s students wearing supportive T-shirts, several small speeches of appreciation, and the presence of local news organizations.
“The event went beyond my imagination,” Thomas said. “I had no idea this kind of energy would be here today.”
The participants wore custom-made t-shirts featuring the phrase “Keep Calm and Fight On” to demonstrate support for Heideman in his battle against cancer. Organizers raised over $1000 for prostate cancer research through the sale of these t-shirts.
“It feels incredible to have such a large support system here at Costa,” Heideman said. “I feel truly blessed to know that so many people could come together like this to celebrate not only just me, but the battle against cancer.”
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