BELCHERTOWN — When a Belchertown teenager faced a sudden cancer diagnosis at the beginning of the summer before her senior year, the community at large came out to support her by raising $40,000 through GoFundMe to support her medical treatments and family expenses.

Hannah Racine thought the pain in her leg was from a running injury, but medical scans showed the pain was from a tumor and additional cancer cells on her lungs. The doctors told Racine’s family that she will need to undergo chemotherapy and three surgeries.

According to Racine’s aunt Jennifer Nale, the diagnosis left Racine and her family in shock.

“She’s a healthy girl who’s running cross county, and plays basketball and driving and had a job, and this diagnosis has put a halt to all of that,” Nale said.

In light of the diagnosis, Nale started a GoFundMe on July 25 for her niece to offset the upcoming medical bills and any unpaid time off work her parents will take during her treatment. So far, $39,400 has been raised in time for Racine’s first surgery on Monday.

“There’s no leave that you can get paid for when you have a sick child,” Nale said. “They only have Family and Medical Leave to rely on, which is unpaid. It protects their job without having to be fired, but that leaves them strained to not only pay their normal bill, but all this financial cost with hospitalizations.”

Nale describes Racine as a smart, positive person who takes on the big sister role for her younger sister, Emily. She’s full of jokes and sarcasm, which hasn’t been dulled by her diagnosis.

Racine is well-known in the community. Besides her involvement in sports and school, Nale said Racine works at the Jitterbugs Early Childhood program, which she and Emily both attended as children. The Jitterbug community has been especially supportive during Racine’s difficult time.

“It’s hard to see someone who’s just a good, all-around responsible kid have to halt her life and battle this disease,” Nale said.

Nale and her brother, Ryan Racine, grew up in Belchertown and know of the community’s generosity, so Nale wasn’t surprised to see the GoFundMe garner support. She is surprised, however, by how fast the money accumulated, breaking $30,000 in just over two weeks.

“I can’t believe how fast it’s grown, and people are coming out of the woodwork and offering to donate time and raffle prizes for a fundraiser we’re organizing,” Nale said. “It means so much.”

Due to the series of surgeries and chemotherapy treatments over the next few months, Racine will start her senior year remotely, completing her school work at home and in the hospital. If the procedures go well, Nale said Racine’s oncologists are hopeful Racine can spend the final semester of high school with the rest of her friends.

For more information on Racine, her story and upcoming fundraisers, visit Hannah Racine’s GoFundMe page.