WEST ORANGE, NJ – In an incredible show of love and support, the West Orange High School cheerleaders, football team and marching band paid a special visit on Oct. 9 to cheer up an ailing friend fellow student and cheerleader, junior Mackenzie Fitschen.

Right now, Mackenzie is battling a rare form of cancer and her family is optimistic that treatment has been helping. Unfortunately, her illness has kept her out of school and off the cheerleading team, and her friends wanted to do something to show their support.

On Friday, at around 4:30 p.m., four filled up school buses pulled onto West Orange’s Luddington Road to rally around Mackenzie. Police closed off the road, while the athletes and musicians exited the buses.

Sign Up for West Orange Newsletter Our newsletter delivers the local news that you can trust. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. You have successfully signed up for the TAPinto West Orange Newsletter.

The cheerleaders and football players cheered and the band played for shy Mackenzie, who stood on the porch with her friends and family members.

Friends gave Mackenzie a Mountaineers teddy bear, flowers and treats.

“We are here for you,” said an emotional Cheerleading Coach Kim Topping. “We love you and we can’t wait to have you back with us next year.”

“It’s so nice to have everyone show up to support me,” said Mackenzie. “It means a lot.”

The marching band played as everyone cheered.





Parents and friends held back tears as the teams and band filed past the porch where Mackenzie stood, many stopping to hug her.

The rain, beginning as a drizzle and becoming heavy, did not dampen spirits as the buses loaded and departed for the teams’ away game.

"Keep on believing, Kenzie!" they said.

In addition, NJ News 12 interviewed the family and recorded the event for the “Friday Night Football” program.

Mackenzie’s parents, Dawn and Brian Fitschen, and her brother Garrett, an eighth grader at Roosevelt, were noticeably moved by the outpouring of love and encouragement.

“This is why we love West Orange,” said Dawn. “We tell everyone all the time how special it is here, and this is the reason why.”

“When our community comes together to do so much good, I am overwhelmed with emotion,” said long-time friend and neighbor Mary Mae Henley. “What a wonderful expression of love.”

Videotaped by Michelle Volpe Solgan.