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Pupils dance for Relay
School club raises $1,200 for annual eventHolli Sunderland
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The pupils participated in a six-hour Super Dance event, in which they found various ways to stay active from dancing to jumping through hula hoops in the school’s gymnasium.
The reason these kids spent their Saturday dancing for charity was twofold — a teacher’s guidance and the love of someone who suffered from cancer.
Libby Wray is a sixth-grade reading teacher at Indian Valley Middle School. Wray said when she’s not teaching, she encourages her pupils to be active in the community.
“Every year we do fundraisers,” Wray said, explaining this was something she began after seeing her own mother organize Key Club activities at the high school for 20 to 25 years.
Saturday’s dance was part of a middle school club’s effort to raise money for Relay For Life. The pupils raised about $1,200, Wray said.
“Every kid here knows someone who survived or died from cancer,” she said.
Some of the pupils shared stories of their personal experiences with cancer.
“I came out here because it’s for Relay For Life,” said Jessica Shilling, 13, of Alfarata.
“My mom had cancer, and she died shortly after,” Shilling said. “I was in fourth grade.”
Ellie Confer, 14, of Belltown, said she also had a relative with cancer.
“Because my aunt had cancer, the relay means a lot to me,” Confer said “The American Cancer Society is a great thing ... they’re great people.”
Twelve-year-old Will Abrashoff spoke of the positive impact Relay for Life has had in the community.
“I think it’ s a great charity, because I feel you can do
something to help. We can’t just sit there, we should try,” Abrashoff said.
He also said he thinks adults have a tendency to underestimate young people.
“It proves that kids can help. I think adults think we can’t do anything, but we can,” Abrashoff said, adding that he raised about $200 for the dance.
Shilling, Confer and Abrashoff were not alone in their efforts. Twenty-eight other pupils also took part in Saturday’s Super Dance, including: Michaela Wilson, Katey Cramer, Stephanie Helsel, Amanda Kepner, Joe Knarr, Kati Dreese, Alexis Ritter, Aleshia Pandel, Darienne Hetrick, Makayla Pearce, Dalton Sinkus, Matthew Murray, Seth Berger, Shaunna Neal, Mahesh Pai, Kayla Buffington, Ashley Victorianna, Jennifer Kline, Hannah Kline, Kelsee Russler, Maddie Rutherford, Olivia Riden, Michele Lake, Justin Adams, Raivn Aumiller, Blake Yoder, Hannah Kerstetter and Mike McLaughlin.
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