An online fundraiser is raising money to help the family of Brenda Hamilton, the Pungo Christian Academy teacher who was killed by an unknown animal last month. Organized by one of her former students, a GoFundMe page created earlier this month has already raised $5,350 donated by 39 people in 12 days.

“This is to help with medical bills as well as loss of income for her family,” fundraiser organizer Misty Nifong Alligood wrote in an email.

A teacher at Pungo Christian Academy for 51 years, Hamilton made a tremendous impact on the lives of her students, colleagues and friends.

“This woman was an angel to so many. Mrs. Hamilton was always there for each and every student who attended PCA and her dedication and encouragement have touched the hearts of those who knew her. For that we are all incredibly thankful,” according to the GoFundMe page.

In addition to helping pay medical bills resulting from the attack, the Help the Hamilton Family campaign also seeks to help ease the family’s financial burdens in their time of loss.

“To describe this woman in full would be a difficult if not impossible task,” the fundraiser page reads. “She simply had too many good qualities to describe in one writing.  She was unbelievably kind, extremely generous, completely selfless and so very sweet, gentle and humble.  The influence she had on countless lives is simply immeasurable.”

Pungo Christian Academy staff confirmed that the GoFundMe fundraiser to help the Hamilton family is a legitimate fundraiser. To support the fundraiser, visit www.gofundme.com/helping-the-hamilton-family.