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The Woodlands High School students rally around teacher battling cancer

By: Kim Kyle Morgan, Woodlands Online
| Published 11/03/2016

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Woodlands High School Improv Troupe will take the stage Nov. 5 to raise money, awareness … and plenty of laughs … for a beloved teacher battling cancer.

Elvira "Doc" de Pieri, an AP Chemistry teacher, was diagnosed with stage 4 gallbladder cancer in March.

Matthew Peters, musical theater and theater production teacher, said everyone is coming together on her behalf, including students who are stepping out of their comfort zone.

"In addition to our 14 troupe members, we will feature students from across the student body," Peters said. "These are students who have never done improv. They've been coming in for extra hours to learn improv skills, and giving their time to help Doc out."

The campus-wide effort also includes donations of gift baskets from various school clubs, which will be auctioned before the show and during intermission.

De Pieri has been teaching at TWHS for 17 years. She is 46-years old and the mother of a 13-year-old daughter.

She has not been able to return to work since her diagnosis.

The prognosis, she said, was 2-5 years to live with conventional medical treatment.

De Pieri is currently exploring alternative treatments.

"I decided to not go with conventional treatments because the prognosis wasn't very good," de Pieri said. "I'm thinking about quality of life.

"Lately I've been energetic, I can function, and I've been able to be here for my daughter."

De Pieri underwent medical scans in August, and while the cancer hasn't receded, it hasn't progressed.

She will have another round of scans at the end of November.

"My therapy is time consuming and labor intensive," de Pieri said. "I definitely could not do what I'm doing without community support. My school, my family, my neighborhood … they're supporting me in prayer as well, and that's been essential for me to progress."

The Woodlands High School Improv Troupe has a history of helping others.

Last year, they raised more than $26,000 for charity.

Beneficiaries include the Conroe ISD Buddy Backpack Program, Mik's Hidden Hearts, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Montgomery County Food Bank, and the Montgomery County Animal Shelter.

"We have three goals," Peters said. "Raise money for charity, raise awareness of the charity … and make people laugh."

Doc plans to be front and center at the show, laughing along while no doubt fighting back the tears.

"It's very touching," de Pieri said. "It helps me pray for strength and that I will come out on top of this."

Want to go?

What: TWHS Improv Troupe Show

When: 7 p.m. Saturday Nov. 5

Where: The Woodlands High School, 6101 Research Forest

Why: Fundraiser in honor of Elvira "Doc" de Pieri, a teacher at TWHS recently diagnosed with gallbladder cancer

Tickets: $5 at the door

For more information: www.twhstheater.com/about-us.html

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