LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Burton Valley Raises Funds for Cancer-stricken Classmate


Team Mac Attack: Alex McLin with his fifth grade class and his teacher, Cathy Martinsen.

Alex McLin is a sports-loving, soon-to-be middle-schooler from Lafayette. His world changed dramatically recently when he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma in his left femur.

In honor of Alex's battle with cancer, his fifth-grade classmates, teammates, teachers, coaches, family and friends (called Team Mac Attack) at Burton Valley Elementary decided to raise money to support oncology research and services at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland.

On June 9, Team Mac Attack presented a donation check to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland's Dr. Jennifer Michlitsch - Alex's oncologist - and Gwenn Lennox from the hospital's Foundation. To date, the team has raised almost $15,000 in on behalf of their classmate as he undergoes treatment at the hospital. Family friends have offered to match all the funds raised when Team Mac Attack reaches $20,000.