Charlie, the son of history professor John Waller and Abigail Waller, was diagnosed with a rare and inoperable brain stem tumor called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma in April 2011. Most children die within a year of their diagnosis — Charlie fought the disease for more than two.

His battle inspired the Art for Charlie Foundation, which sponsors annual art auctions and has raised nearly $150,000 for hospice care for children.

The idea for this fundraiser came from fourth-grader Caleb Lampi, who suggested the idea to his mother shortly after Charlie’s death. Caleb’s mother, Stephanie Lampi, thought it was a wonderful way to bring the school and community together to show their immense support for the Waller family.

The bench is meant to give students a place to go on the playground if they feel lonely so they can make friends.

“When (Charlie) passed away, we were like really sorry for his family and I just wanted to do something to help out,” Caleb said.

The students remember him as being very kind and always encouraging others to act the same, Caleb said.

Charlie’s family was thrilled to hear about the school doing such a positive thing in his honor.

“It’s just a beautiful way in which they can remember him and also just a wonderful way in which they can remember what he stood for when he was at the school,” John Waller said. “I think its association with Charlie will give the bench an additional power to these children. They will know that this is a very, very special place and that it’s there for a special reason.”

Charlie always wanted everyone to fit in and to feel included, those who knew him said. So when Marble Elementary School Principal Dori Leyko caught wind of the bracelet fundraiser, she knew it would fulfill Charlie’s wish.

“This is a perfect way that we can carry on his legacy and his wishes here,” Leyko said.

Every day this week, students at Marble Elementary School have been making rainbow rubber band bracelets to sell on Feb. 19. They have the option to skip their recesses every day to contribute to the cause. This goal, however, has done more than just produce hundreds of bracelets.

“This bracelet activity and event has really brought a lot of them together in showing them that they can make a difference in something small like this and it can start from one student and carry on,” Leyko said.

The school also remembers Charlie every week with their Wednesday hat day because he didn’t want kids with cancer to feel different for having to wear a hat.