Pennies for Patients off and running
Posted on: Feb 12, 2019
After raising more than $95,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society over the previous 15 years, Delano students began their 16th Pennies for Patients campaign on Monday, Feb. 11.
“It’s really about you caring about something bigger than yourselves,” DHS social studies teacher Marji Miller told students at a school-wide kickoff assembly Monday afternoon.
Miller knows firsthand the difference made by campaigns like Pennies for Patients, as her daughter was diagnosed with cancer at age 6. She also encouraged students to show support for those touched by cancer not just through monetary donations, but also through kindness, notes of support, gifts and other actions like donating blood.
Senior Alex Weed also spoke about his battle with cancer, humorously explaining how it wasn’t all bad.
“I’ve used cancer to get out of many situations,” he said. “‘Alex, take out the trash.’ I can’t. I have cancer.”
Weed has been cancer free for almost two years now, and thanked staff members for helping him catch up with his school work after missing large portions of his sophomore and junior years.
The assembly also included a relay race organized by the Student Council in which cancer cells represented by brown balloons were replaced on the outline of a body by red and white balloons.
Pennies for Patients was a well-established tradition for the Delano Middle School Student Council, and is continuing this year for the full grade seven through 12 high school.
“This is something we’ve been doing since before many of you were born,” staff coordinator Melody Soderberg said at the assembly.
The campaign runs until Friday, March 8, and a variety of activities and fun events are planned. After raising a school record $9,062 last year, Delano’s goal for 2019 is to raise an even $10,000. Click here to visit Delano's online donation page.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society exists to “cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.”
Post Categories: High School