The children from Riverside Primary School raised the funds through a free dress day on Wednesday and their fund-raising effort hasn't stopped yet.

The pupils were touched by the story of Gabriel, 3, of Riverside, who is fighting for his life in Melbourne after being diagnosed with a tumour on his brain stem that has caused him to have to learn to walk and talk again.

Gabriel's five-year-old sister Jakeeta attends the school.

Riverside principal Jane Bovill said the community got straight into fund-raising for the family.

``I think everyone in our community can sympathise as they'd hope if they were in a similar circumstance that they'd receive some support as well,'' Mrs Bovill said.

However, she said that the school was surprised at how much money had been raised from a free dress day.

``We sent out a note to everyone in the community and we thought we'd raise about $800 and we raised about $3128,'' she said.

``People were bringing along $50, $10 - it was just wonderful.

``When they counted the money I had a tear in my eye, it just means an awful lot when a community thinks about the wider community.''

Gabriel's story has also touched the Deloraine Charity Singers, who will hold a concert for Gabriel and his family on Saturday, December 15, at the Deloraine RSL Club.