Watch CBS News

Teen Cancer Patient Prepped For Prom With Help From The Community

DETROIT (WWJ) - It's prom time for a west side Detroit teen who's been battling cancer.

Maia Wright, 17, got a pep rally send off from classmates and others at Renaissance High School, Wednesday, before the big night.

This was the culmination of the "Send Maia to the Prom" campaign which raised over 3,000 for her dress, shoes, hair and other prom necessities.

"I was just proud that, you know, our kids felt the need ... saw a need, and just reacted. They stepped up," said school Principal Anita Williams.

Wright said she's grateful.

"It was overwhelming at first, because I was like, 'Oh my God ... all this is for me,'" she told WWJ Newsradio 950's Stephanie Davis. "But I truly appreciate it, because it's so cool."

Wright's childhood friend Walter Brockington started it all with a "Go Fund Me" online fundraising campaign.  Now, he'll be her date.

"I'm glad everybody came out and supported her like I knew they would — because she's friendly, everybody knows her," Brockington said.

Wright, diagnosed with colon cancer earlier this year, told doctors she was going to the attend the  prom in June. She's being treated with chemotherapy doing OK.

maia prom
(credit: Stephanie Davis/WWJ)
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.