Catasauqua High School teacher Edward Whitehead recently discovered he is not alone in his battle against cancer.

In May, CHS student council officers turned their concern for another into action by holding a book fair in honor of Whitehead.

Student council officers felt the book fair, held at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Lehigh Valley Mall, was necessary to support their English teacher, who recently was diagnosed with cancer.

"The book fair was important because the student council felt that it would be uplifting and encouraging for one of our teachers who has cancer," said student council officer and Class of 2013 graduate Liam Browne. "It was our way of showing our support for him in his fight against cancer."

CHS teacher and student council advisor Paula Semmel said student council officers discussed several ideas that would benefit Whitehead.

Semmel said it was Browne who discovered Barnes & Noble sponsors book fairs for local schools. Shortly after that, Browne and Colleen Hickey, another student council member, took action.

Browne and Hickey were assisted by student council officers Bailey Kudla-Williams, Morgon Lesko and Paige Kogelman. Student council officers secured gift cards, collected baskets and a Nook to raffle off during the book fair.

The efforts of Browne and Hickey impressed Semmel.

"Liam and Colleen were the driving force behind the book fair and only relied on me slightly for coordinating everyone's efforts," Semmel said. "I am very proud of their initiative and their success and am honored to have the opportunity to work with them on such a worthwhile event."

The book fair, Semmel said, was well attended by staff, students and alumni. Whitehead and his wife and daughter also stopped by during the event.

During the fair, the North Catasauqua choral group, We Sing, performed for those in attendance.

The online portion of the book fair ran until May 14.

Semmel said the funds generated from the book fair will be used by Whitehead for the CHS English department and the school library.