SUDBURY -- Andy Gagne, principal at West Ferris Secondary School in North Bay, directed morning traffic at the school Friday morning wearing pink.

Gagne, well-known at the school for only wearing black, promised he would change colours if students and staff surpassed a $1,500 fundraising goal to help Ali, a local four-year-old girl who is recovering from brain surgery. Pink is Ali's favourite colour.

Events were set into motion last week, when students had a discussion about the situation, and asked administration how they could help.

"Quickly, staff and students came together to rally behind Ali and her family," the school said in a news release.

Donations were collected all week, and a virtual 'Rally for Ali' was held on Thursday, and the final tally did indeed surpass $1,500, reaching close to $3,000.

“I am so proud of our students and staff for supporting this little girl and her family," Gagne said. "The West Ferris community, the families that support our school, they just continue to demonstrate what it means to belong to this school. Trojan Pride!”

“It’s an overwhelming amount of support from the students,” social sciences teacher Mark Robertson, a key planner behind the fundraiser, said in the release. “It really blew everyone away that we exceeded the goal.”

Robertson said when students heard they had exceeded the goal, they were excited and emotional.

"WFSS remains committed to supporting the local community. Students support food drives, collecting items for the women’s shelters, the annual cancer walk, and other fundraising opportunities throughout the school year," the release said.