Students at Binghamton High School make a donation in support of a teacher, and a graduate.

Since 2004, the Michael Connolly Endowment for Lung Cancer Research has raised more than a half million dollars.

Action News reporter Gabe Osterhout tells us how the donation helps the goal.

Binghamton High School teacher Penny Connolly thanked students in a summer program for a generous donation.

Students held a variety of events to raise more than 22 hundred dollars to the Michael Connolly Endowment for Lung Cancer Research.

"It's overwhelming to see kids take 4 or 5 weeks out of their summer to do something positive and for us to be the recipient of this year's funds is awesome," say Penny Connolly, chairperson of the endowment and Michael Connolly's wife.

Michael Connolly was a graduate of Binghamton High school who died of lung cancer in 2002.

He was 39 and never smoked.

Penny set up an endowment at Upstate Medical Hospital in Syracuse to study lung cancer.

In May, the foundation gave 3 doctors a grant to study lung cancer biopsies.

"They'll look at stage 1 biopsies and try to figure out what lymph nodes is it going to go to first. And so then the first treatment someone will get, they're going to try to attack that source where it's going next," says Connolly.

The endowment is now trying to raise another half million dollars to fund more research.

Students say they hope the money they raise will help answer some questions.

"Where and how did it get here and why is it here and hopefully it will over rise and go away one day," says Richie McGhee, a 9th grade student at Binghamton High School.

As the endowment raises more money, it can provide more grants based on the interest earned.

Connolly says it will continue until a cure for lung cancer can be found.

In Binghamton, Gabe Osterhout, WBNG-TV Action News.

Upstate Medical University will match any donation made to the endowment.

For more information or to donate, log onto www.upstate. edu/ foundations/Connolly.php