VAN NUYS : School Raises $1,140 for Ailing Student

Students and faculty at the Valley Schools in Van Nuys raised about $1,140 at a weekend carwash to aid a schoolmate recovering from brain surgery.

Organizers said the combination of live music, hot dogs and a good cause drew about 150 car owners to the fund-raiser for Stefanie Gabler, 13, of Van Nuys, who had surgery in January.

Since then, Gabler’s family has run up more than $1 million in medical bills, about $200,000 of which was not covered by insurance, organizers said.

Although the Gablers could not be reached for comment, Valley Schools Principal Richard Stanford said the event raised the spirits of many.

“We had people that drove up and asked what was going on,� Stanford said. “When we told them, they got out of their cars and helped wash cars.�