CHAMPAIGN – It's one of the most popular T-shirts at Centennial High School these days.

The logo reads "Team C," but it doesn't stand for "Centennial" or "Chargers." It's for "Clif."

And the shirt isn't in support of the sports teams at the high school. Teachers and students are wearing the shirt to root for Clif Aldridge, a 2004 Centennial graduate who is fighting a rare form of cancer.

The support has come from Centennial teachers, students and former students, Central High School faculty, local theater folks, community members and local businesses.

They've bought the T-shirts, and also wristbands that say "Clif Rocks!" They've shared information about doctors and clinical trials. They've spent time with Clif, and sent letters, e-mails and text messages. They've raised more than $23,000 through shirt and wristband sales, fundraisers and donations since mid-October.

"It's just amazing the support we're getting," said Sue Aldridge, Clif's mother and a drama and English teacher at Centennial. "It's truly overwhelming, but we're so grateful. Everything they're doing is giving us strength to face each day and the challenges it's bringing.

"I use the analogy, you have a rock to hang on to. We have a mountain that is keeping us together," she continued. "If prayers, good thoughts and good deeds were a cure, Clif would be cured long ago."

Clif Aldridge, now 23, was diagnosed with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors during his senior year at Illinois State University. He underwent two surgeries to remove a tumor from his lungs, then chemotherapy and radiation.

In June, he was pronounced cancer-free. In October, he found out the cancer was back.

He's again getting radiation, to help with the pain from the tumors that are growing into his ribs. He'll likely start a clinical trial, either in Chicago or New York, early in 2010.

Marian Wyatt is the "coach" of Team C. Wyatt, a vocal music teacher at Centennial who has taught for many years with Sue Aldridge, has known Clif since he was a child and directed him in her choir.

She and several community members set up the Clifton Aldridge Benefit Fund at Busey Bank to help with the medical and travel expenses associated with Clif's treatment. They created a Facebook site and Web page, and they've been holding fundraisers for Clif, including a recent happy hour for Centennial and Central teachers that raised $1,200. A Halloween event raised nearly $10,000.

Centennial Principal Justin Moore and Central Principal Joe Williams have helped Wyatt organize a Black Out/White Out for the Centennial-Central basketball game on Dec. 18 at Centennial.

Both schools will be selling Team C T-shirts to be worn at the game – white shirts with a blue logo for Centennial and black shirts with a maroon logo for Central. Each school will have its own "C" in the logo.

The players will wear the shirts during warm-ups. The coaches will have Team C shoes, and the pep bands and choirs from the two schools will perform together at the game.

Clif's older brother, Will, teaches at Central. That school has been as supportive of him as Centennial has been of her, Sue Aldridge said.

Upcoming fundraisers include an improv comedy show in downtown Champaign on Dec. 4 and a musical production at Centennial High School on Jan. 16.

Her son has good days and bad, but he's resilient and has kept a positive attitude, Sue Aldridge said, and the support from friends gives him strength.

"We will never be able to repay them for everything they've done," Aldridge said. "The money from the benefits is tremendous, but the moral support they have lent to us is priceless."

Fundraisers

See the 'Team C' Web site at www.teamc.org for information on fundraisers for Clif Aldridge, to make a donation, to buy a T-shirt or wristband, or to link to Team C's Facebook page or Twitter account.