“I thought it was so wonderful to see all the children in the school, from the youngest to the eighth-graders, really just be so compassionate and so excited to do this for Mary,” O’Connell added. “Obviously, the amount of money that was raised is a sign to show how committed everybody was to this cause and how important it was for the kids to do this for a friend. It was a spectacular day, and it was a day that made me proud to be a part of this school and this community.”

Since Mary’s diagnosis, OLP has held several events that raised money for her family, including Dress Down Day, when students paid $1 to wear casual clothes to school, and raffles. Proceeds from the annual Spring Fling Dance were also donated to her family.

“She’s the most inspirational child I’ve ever met,” VonBraunsberg said. “She constantly has a smile on her face, and we’re just doing simple things for her to help her through this, like praying, walk-a-thons, dress-down days. It’s the little things that are going to help her get through this.”

Mary is slated to undergo surgery at the end of the summer to remove the tumor. “It’s been hard,” her mother said, “but, you know, if the surgery goes well, hopefully she can come back to being a normal 11-year-old girl.”

If you are interested in helping out the DePinto family and the Ronald McDonald House, contact Our Lady of Peace at (516) 593-4884.

Sean Harmon contributed to this story.