Our Lady of Lourdes Raises $1500 during Annual Pennies for Patients Campaign

posted on March 4, 2013 

Students and staff at Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL) finished two months of fundraising on February 28, raising more than $1,500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Sister Susan Biegert, SSND, religious education coordinator at OLL, has led the campaign for last eight years the school has participated, helping to raise nearly $14,800 for the Society. “I just try to encourage the kids to participate,” says Sister Biegert.

Sister Biegert felt a call to support the charity having witnessed the devastating effects of cancer within her own family and in the community. “When we learn about all those kids with cancer you realize that we just need to find a cure!”

Students raised the $1,500 one coin at a time, as the name Pennies for Patients suggests. Each class created an exciting way to raising funds, from raffling off stuffed animals to selling headbands and wristbands with the school’s colors. The school also held a ‘Hat Day’ and ‘Crazy Clothes Day’ allowing those students who brought in a few quarters to wear a hat in school or dress in their pajamas all day.

According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s website, the Pennies for Patients campaign has raised millions of dollars since its start in 1995, allowing more than 10 million students to participate in the effort to fund cutting edge treatments for blood cancer.

To learn more about the charitable work of students at Our Lady of Lourdes, contact Sister Susan Biegert, SSND at 605/867-2801

Photos: Left - Sister Susan Biegert in front of the OLL Fundraising Wall on the last day of the fundrasier.
Above - Pickle Sale for Pennies for Patients Poster & Coin Collection 'Bank.'  -  ©Red Cloud Indian School