by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
The Sauk Rapids-Rice School District’s annual Walk for Life, which raises money for the American Cancer Society, is today – May 1.
Students and staff at district school buildings participate in this service project to raise money to help fight cancer. Organizer and library media specialist Cindy Hiedeman said the district raised more than $28,000 last year.
Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School students and staff spent the week participating in creative activities to help raise money for the cause.
On April 24, they gathered in the community art center for a kick-off celebration. After the kick-off, they had a chance to create and decorate posters to celebrate, remember or show support for people who have fought or are fighting cancer. The posters will be placed along their path as they walk.
“Here at SRRMS, we’re a family and as one we’re committed to the Walk for Life cause,” said eighth-grade teacher Cindy McMillan. “During the kick-off celebration we laughed and cried. We are touched by the battle scars many of us carry and we reach out to help one another find peace.”
With a donation of $1, students could wear a hat on both Friday, April 24 and May 1.
A Walk for Life store located in the commons was open 7:30-8:05 a.m. daily April 27-May 1. Funds from purple and pink headbands, necklaces, bracelets and other items purchased will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
Students also had a chance to Flush Out Cancer by donating dollars during advisory time. The top six advisories with the most money collected were able to help pick which classroom/office area two rolling purple toilets would be rolled to. The teacher or office staff where the toilet was rolled to either got their picture taken with the toilet or he/she could pay $5 to roll the toilet along to a different classroom.
Hiedeman said the toilets usually stopped at six classrooms or more each day.
“It was so awesome to see the purple toilets cruising the halls,” said seventh-grade student Tiffany Emerson. “One of my teachers received it over four times. Walk For Life is a great way to raise money to cure cancer and a good way to show we care by making detailed posters for our walking path.”
Each morning in the commons, buckets with a toilet seat on top were set out for students to toss coins into. Different grade levels had their own port-a-potty.
Walk for Life is a very moving and touching service project,” Hiedeman said. “Cancer has touched many staff and students and we are committed to do all we can to help fund research and find a cure for this awful disease.”
“(It’s) a great way to get money to cure cancer and show people we care,” said sixth-grader Hannah Krippner.
“Together, we can create big change and we can ‘flush out’ cancer,” said sixth-grade student Emma Johnson.
Middle-school walkers plan to walk from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Students and staff at Pleasantview Elementary, Mississippi Heights Elementary, Rice Elementary, Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School and Sauk Rapids-Rice High School are also participating in the fundraiser.
The Sauk Rapids-Rice school district is participating in the annual Walk for Life May 1. One event students and staff at the Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School participated in was the rolling purple toilet which visited sixth-grade teacher Chanda Larson’s classroom. Pictured are (third row, left to right) Elijah Woggon, Chanda Larson, Veronica Peacock, Ady Froiland, Logan Ludwig; (second row) Allison Stiegel, Anja Hanson, Dacia Douma; (front) Gage Henry.
The rolling toilet also visited Brenda Boser and her seventh-grade students. Pictured are (front left) Zach Vogel; (front right) Katlyn Schulz, Katelyn Fouquette, Rachel Sikes and Kierah Kraemer; (middle row, left to right) Grant Lovitz, Jared Spohn, Josh Virnig, Trace Wagner, Isabelle Langer, Patrick Holder, Emberlyn Sander, Cameron Hanson, Boser, Breanna Westby, Grace Martin and Madison Davidson; and (far back) Michael Costello.
