WILKES COUNTY, N.C. -- Students aren't usually allowed to wear hats at C.B. Eller Elementary School. But on Wednesday, teachers made an exception and even encouraged students to wear them.
"You could bring a donation for Hunter and his family and then in return you would get to wear a hat for the day," explained Callie Hall, a student in the 5th grade.
Students from all over, Wilkes County to Elkin to Mount Airy, wore hats to honor Hunter Brown. A tour bus hit the 8th grader while he was on a class trip in D.C. last week. Hunter is in the hospital.
"We're all a family together and we need to help each other out when things like that happen," Hall said.
Students down the street at East Wilkes Middle School, had their reasons for taking part in the fundraiser.
"It's really hitting home because he's my age and from our county," said 8th grader, Lydia Byrd.
Byrd went on a class trip to D.C. the week before Hunter's accident.
"When we were down there, that could've been one of us," Byrd said. "So wearing hats, it's to support the family and the family needs support. Just something to honor him."
The students were asked to bring in a dollar to wear a hat, but many went above and beyond. Boonville Elementary, C.B. Eller Elementary and East Wilkes Middle School raised a combined $2700 for Hunter's family.