Students from Our Lady of Lourdes raise more than $1000 to stop leukemia and lymphoma

posted on February 24, 2011

Our Lady of Lourdes played host to a 5th and 6th grade basketball tournament February 25-26 to raise money toward their Pennies for Patients Campaign. This is the eighth year that students from the elementary school in Porcupine, South Dakota, have raised money and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The fundraiser ran from the beginning of January through the end of February.

Students raised more than $1000 for the society through bake sales, selling concessions at sporting events, half-court shootouts during halftimes, raffles, pickle sales, “candy grams” and of course, penny jars available in every classroom. Students even got a lesson in accounting, as they counted the pennies collected daily.

“Every year, the society sends us posters, labels to put on the classroom jars, and flyers to send home to parents about fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,” says Sr. Susan Biegert, religion teacher. “The posters I get have pictures of children that have fought cancer and won—or are winning—the battle against cancer. The money is making a difference.”

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. According to their website, leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma will cause the deaths of an estimated 54,020 people in the United States this year alone. These blood cancers will account for nearly 9.5 percent of deaths from cancer.

Over the past eight years of involvement in the Pennies for Patients Campaign, Our Lady of Lourdes has been honored three times with commemorative plaques for collecting the second highest amount of pennies in the entire state of South Dakota.

To learn more about this important program or to donate, contact Wilbur Ferguson, athletic director, or Sr. Biegert, at 605/867-2801.