IRONDEQUOIT N.Y. – More than 40 students throughout Monroe County came together to celebrate the life of fellow theater lover and performer Michael Lynch, through song and fundraising.

After several weeks of rehearsal, the students sang and performed in "Remember the Love," a fundraiser for the Lynch Foundation at Irondequoit United Church of Christ, Saturday afternoon.

Following rehearsals, Co-Director of the event, Elijah Culp said “A lot of these numbers that we picked were ones that we knew were from shows that he loved, shows that he was in himself and those that reflect his personality.”

Michael was only 14 when he lost his life following a car accident in March of 2017. Other friends like Pittsford Sutherland High School, sophomore Sarah Zwart said her first impression of him is everlasting.

“Even people who don’t know Michael, they can still feel that love that he implanted in other, now, people for us to spread,” said Zwart.

Jessica Snyder and 11th Grader at Churchville-Chili High School said she wanted to “show support to the Lynch Family and the Rochester Youth Community Theater—in hard times you can get through it by singing dancing and loving people.”

Michael was well-known for spreading love, and with that in mind, Culp says love is the overall message. He said, “That was so much of what Michael was about and so much about what we are trying to show here and I hope that’s what people walk away from this event having.”