Wayne Schools Will Host Gymnastics Brain Tumor Fundraiser
Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley high schools are holding a fundraiser on October 12 to support brain tumor research.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy
Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley high schools will hold a gymnastics fundraiser on October 12 to support brain tumor research. The event honors Samantha Weite, a 2023 graduate who underwent two brain surgeries in 2025.
Why it matters
The teams are raising research funds to honor Weite following her successful recovery from a brain tumor. Weite, who spent 15 years in the sport, has transitioned from education to a career in nursing.
Samantha Weite, now 21, spent 15 years participating in gymnastics and required two weeks of hospital recovery following her 2025 brain surgeries. All post-surgery MRI scans have been clear.
The players
Samantha Weite
She is a 2023 Wayne Hills High School graduate and patient care technician at Chilton Medical Center who previously coached gymnastics in Pompton Plains.
Wayne Hills High School
This educational institution is one of the local schools hosting the gymnastics fundraiser on October 12.
Wayne Valley High School
This public secondary school is collaborating with Wayne Hills High School to support brain tumor research.
Chilton Medical Center
This healthcare facility currently employs Samantha Weite as a patient care technician.
The details
The gymnastics teams at Wayne Hills High School and Wayne Valley High School are selling shirts and signs to generate funds for research. Weite currently works as a patient care technician at Chilton Medical Center after shifting her professional focus to nursing.
Timeline
Samantha Weite underwent brain surgery in 2025.
The gymnastics fundraiser is scheduled for October 12.
Market Landscape
This fundraiser follows the pattern of high school athletic programs leveraging local competitions to channel community support into medical research advocacy. Such initiatives reinforce the role of extracurricular activities in local philanthropic cycles.
Community members can participate by attending the gymnastics meet or purchasing shirts and signs to support research. Proceeds from these sales will be directed toward brain tumor research efforts.
The takeaway
The fundraiser highlights the intersection between local athletic communities and personal medical recovery stories. Residents interested in supporting the cause can contribute by purchasing event-specific merchandise.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to support medical initiatives on the Philanthropy page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by North Jersey.
