ECH nears lofty cancer fundraising goal
Saturday, April 19, 2008
By LINDSAY MOTT
The Mississippi Press
The 800 East Central High School students spread across the gymnasium yelled "Celebrate! Remember! Fight Back!" back and forth to each other to close the ceremony celebrating the school's nearing its $10,000 goal for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.
According to Donna Carpenter, captain of the high school team, the students are only about $1,800 short of their goal. With one more week of fundraising and the relay event itself, everyone involved was confident that the school would meet its goal. Carpenter said that all the money has been raised "in-house."
"Every dime has been brought in by faculty and students," she said. Students can ask their friends and family to donate, but the school has not done a community-wide fundraiser.
Friday morning's event opened with a skit performed by students showing a father breaking the news that he has cancer to his family. There was a video showing cancer survivors and scenes from different relays.
EC Relay for Life Chairperson Cherie Langley praised the students for the money that had already been raised and encouraged them to complete the goal. She said that they are only one of a few platinum-level schools, which signifies reaching the $10,000 mark. She told them that the one school in Mississippi that has reached $14,000 is "at least three times as big." She also recognized two students who had given large amounts.
Guest speaker Mark Scott then talked to the students. Scott has been involved in spreading the word about early cancer detection since his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 and then died from it in 2005. According to Scott, after being diagnosed, "one of her crusades was early detection. We keep that going. This is what we do as a family."
He gave a number of statistics to the students to give them examples of the numbers of people affected by cancer. He recognized three cancer survivors in the school.
Scott also recognized 6-year-old Jadyn Cripps, who raised $300 by asking friends and family for donations and selling cookies and brownies in "her mimi's restaurant, Aunt Nita's, in Pascagoula," according to her mother, Candi Cripps. Her class at East Central Lower Elementary is raising money as well, but Candi said Jadyn made it her mission to raise this amount of money. In Jadyn's words, she raised the money "to fight cancer."
Scott then urged the students to "know your bodies" and be on the lookout for anything different.
"The fact is, with cancer, if you catch it early it's almost always curable, but if you catch if late, it's almost never curable. It's all about being proactive. Err on the side of caution," he said.
Scott said people have told him they started self-exams that saved their lives after hearing him speak. "That's a happy ending to a tragedy," Scott said.
Next, a teacher dressed as a member of the band Motley Crue gave a preview performance. In an effort to raise money, teachers at East Central will dress as different musicians with the winner to perform at the Relay for Life event.
Students vote for the band they want to see by donating money to the specific bands, Spice Girls, Motley Crue, The Beach Boys and Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. Spice Girls is winning so far. If the school reaches its goal before next Friday's event, all the bands will perform.
To close the event, the school's cheerleaders prompted the different sides to yell, "Celebrate -- Remember -- Fight Back."
Principal Jim Hughey is happy with the support his students have shown for this cause.
"I am thrilled to death. Whenever I was first approached with the idea, I had no idea the support would be as it is. You start talking about $10,000, and that is a lot of money for high school students to raise," he said.
He credited the amount of support to the fact that many of the students have been affected by cancer in some way.
"Whether it be a friend or a family member or just knowing someone who has cancer. ... To be as young as they are, they really do have a grasp on what reality is, ... I think that's what has really led to the overwhelming support of our students," Hughey said.
East Central's event will be from 5:15 p.m. Friday until about 6 a.m. Saturday. The relay will take place at the H.D. Shirley Stadium at East Central High School on Miss 614 in Hurley.
Reporter Lindsay Mott can be reached at lmott@themississippipress.com or 228-934-1435.
Mark Scott shares his wife's story and how early detection can save lives.
Mississippi Press interviews Mark Scott before the assembly.
Committee volunteer Terri Noble gets a hug from the Rev. Bill Barton.
