PRESS RELEASE
May 9, 2012
CCMS team nears $5,000 mark for Relay for Life
CAMPBELL COUNTY SCHOOLS – The statistics are staggering. One is every two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes. Survivors walk among us every day. It seems everyone knows someone who has lost their fight.
Staff and students from Campbell County Middle School are taking steps to build a future with better odds. Through a penny drive, candy sales and general donations, the Campbell County Middle School Relay for Life team has raised more than $4,300 for the American Cancer Society. The team is being led by para-educator Jackie Geisel who is the Campbell County event’s top fundraiser so far this year.
Though thrilled with the total raised by the school thus far, she is still hoping to reach their goal of $5,000. She hopes they can reach it through the events planned for the evening of Relay which include selling gently used books and beaded jewelry. And, of course, cash donations are always welcome.
Though not a cancer survivor herself, Geisel has experienced the effects cancer can have on a family.
“I relay in honor of my many family members and friends who have fought or are fighting cancer,” she said, adding that several CCMS staff members are survivors.
Relay for Life is the primary fund-raising event for the American Cancer Society during which team members take turns walking a track during the overnight hours. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events. Relay participants do not have to walk all night, but each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event.
“Each year Jackie (Geisel) puts forth so much effort and time to make Relay for Life a learning experience for our students. This really is an awesome project and so many of us know somebody in our lives who has or has had cancer,” said Sara Altenhofen, a 7th grade teacher.
Events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and online. Originating in the United States, the Relay for Life event has spread to 21 countries. The Relay for Life of Campbell County will begin Friday, May 11, at 6 p.m. and run until 6 a.m. the following morning at Newport High School. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend. Many activities are planned for the overnight hours.
Although the main objective of Relay for Life is to raise money for cancer research, the event is also a way to spread cancer awareness, celebrate the lives of survivors, remember those who lost their lives to cancer, and unite the community in the fight against cancer. It is estimated that Relay for Life events have raised over $3 billion to date.
Donations can still be made online at www.relayforlife.org/campbellky. If you choose the Campbell County Middle School Team from the drop-down menu, the CCMS team will get credit for the donation.
For more information, contact CCMS Para-educator Jackie Geisel at 859-635-6077 or Director of Communications Juli Hale at 859-635-2173 or visit http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12MS?fr_id=38501&pg=entry.
Campbell County School District provides the highest quality public education and extracurricular activities for nearly 5,000 students in preschool through grade 12. The district has earnedthe prestigious AdvancEd International accreditation and is among the top ranking districts in Kentucky on state and national assessments. More information is available at www.campbellcountyschools.org.