Students at Beverly-Center Elementary collect coins for cancer fight
BEVERLY — September was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the students of Beverly-Center Elementary worked together, saved coins and earned money to put toward a local childhood cancer foundation.
On Friday afternoon, students filled the gym at Beverly-Center Elementary to watch their hard work pay off. Through the month of September, kindergarten-through-sixth-grade students collected coins for the cause. The school used a superhero theme in honor of all the childhood cancer fighters.
“Coins for Cancer is a really great way to let the kids do their part while at the same time creating awareness to students about childhood cancer,” said Beth Haines, the Title 1 teacher at Beverly-Center Elementary.
Collectively, the school raised $1,541.65 and presented the check Traci Nichols, co-founder of BrAva, a local organization founded by families who experienced childhood cancer first-hand. Founded in 2011, BrAva has raised more than $120,000 to put toward helping families and a search for a cure.
“This is the fourth year we have done this and all the kids really love it,” said Nichols. “This is really an amazing way to have the kids get involved with a fun competition amongst each other.”
The winning classes who raised the most coins got to watch their classroom teachers battle each other with silly string.
Second-grade teacher Paige Greathouse was one of the teachers of a winning class and got to take on second-grade teacher Cathy Borich, fifth-grade teacher, Jennifer Young and fourth-grade teacher Dawn Spurr.
“We really look forward to this every year and love doing anything to bring awareness to the kids,” said Greathouse.
The second-grade classes alone raised more than $600.
Students cheered their teachers on as they sprayed each other with silly string celebrating the wrap-up of Coins for Cancer.
“I think our teacher won,” joked second-grade student, Hannah Weiker.
Everett Sampson, a second-grader at Beverly-Center Elementary, has experienced personally how tough it can be losing a family member to childhood cancer.
“It’s amazing that my school collected all this money. I loved collecting coins,” he said.
Beverly-Center Elementary plans to continue this tradition with BrAva for many years to come.
“It really is important to spread awareness among children because many of them aren’t old enough to understand how terrible childhood cancer is,” said Nichols.
For more information on how to get involved with BrAva, visit bravafight.com.