The Bergen Beach community gathered Thursday to support a local girl with cancer.

Hundreds of parishioners, family and friends packed St. Bernard's Catholic Chuch to raise the spirits of Kaitlyn Bernhardt, 13.

Inside the church, the lights were dimmed and people lit up glow sticks that later went inside white paper bags containing messages of hope for Bernhardt. The bags were provided by the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. There was also a prayer service.

Bernhardt was diagnosed with psteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, this summer shortly after graduating from St. Bernard's Academy. She went through intensive surgeries that removed much of her right leg, and she now uses a wheelchair.

Organizers say the event was about healing and about hope. It also raised money for Bernhardt and her family to help them out as they continue her rehabilitation.