Jimmy Kimmel among supporters for Clark High School legend

A local high school community — and comedian Jimmy Kimmel — has reached out to the public for help supporting a Clark High School legend and his family after he was hospitalized in April with stage 4 lymphoma.

Luke Werner graduated from Clark High School in 1976. After graduation, Luke stuck around as a volunteer to help out coaches and work as a hall monitor, according to former students. He became known as a friend of anyone who’s passed through Clark’s hallways in the last four decades.

Luke’s sister, Rita Werner Alleyne, has been updating friends on Facebook with Luke’s condition. Alleyne said he’s been physically weakened by a heart failure and a past battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma nine years ago.

“He said, ‘I did it once and I can do it again!’” she wrote.

On Monday, Alleyne posted a video update from Luke, who she said had just undergone his second week of treatment. She said the length of his full treatment is estimated to be 24 weeks.

A YouCaring profile has been set up for Luke, known as “Mr. Charger.” The school’s team name is the Chargers.

Since the post, students, both former and current, have spread the word on social media to help Luke and his family with donations, including a campaign to get Jimmy Kimmel involved, another Clark High School alum.

Kimmel tweeted about it on Tuesday calling out to his other Clark alumni.

“Las Vegas Clark HS alumni —let’s help Luke A.K.A. ‘Mr. Charger’ with medical expenses,” Kimmel tweeted.

With 15 days left in the fundraiser, the goal has reached more than $8,000 of a $10,000 goal.

Members of the Las Vegas community have steadily donated, leaving messages for Luke. An anonymous donor wrote “Keep up the fight, Luke! You were such an inspiration when we were at Clark and you are today!”

“We have had an outpouring of love and support from his troops at Clark,” Alleyne wrote. “All the existing staff, students and Alumni are cheering him on.”

“I am blessed to be part of the team that will lead him to wellness.”

Contact Kristen DeSilva at 702-477-3895 or kdesilva@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kristendesilva