Elyse Kassa summed up the reason behind H.T. Burt Elementary School’s February penny drive.
‘We raised money to help find a cure for the bad disease cancer going around,? the five-year-old kindergarten student said.
Elyse, along with the rest of the students and staff at H.T. Burt, 209 Varsity Dr., Ortonville, did their part to help the American Cancer Society. At a Mar. 21 assembly, H.T. Burt teachers Darlene Kossa and Amy Poole presented Kelli McCoy, community development director for the American Cancer Society, with a check for $801.76.
The money will be going directly to the Hopetown USA Relay for Life team, headed up by Poole. The team will participate in the annual Relay for Life June 17-18 at Clarkston Junior High School.
As a result of their fundraising efforts, H.T. Burt will be an official team sponsor and appear on the back of Clarkston Relay for Life signs and T-shirts.
Elyse, who is one of Poole’s kindergarten students at H.T. Burt, said several people helped her raise money during the penny drive. ‘My family gave me some money, and I got some from my piggy bank,? she said.
Poole said she has been a part of the Hopetown USA team since it first started six years ago. ‘I had joined the team because I’ve had several friends and family members with cancer,? she said.
About a year ago, Poole said the team’s founder, Geri Fancher of Clarkston, decided to step down as team leader, and Poole decided to step up and fill Fancher’s shoes.
Poole said the Relay for Life event will take place for a 24-hour period beginning at 10 a.m. June 17. She said during the relay, team members join the walk at various times throughout the day, with an estimated 40 people from the Hopetown USA team taking part.
In addition to her family and other friends, Poole said one of her H.T Burt colleagues, art teacher Lisa Hetherington, has been affected by the disease. Hetherington, who has brain cancer, is currently on leave from the school.
The fact that one of their own has been affected by cancer impacted the school’s decision to donate the money raised from the penny drive toward the Hopetown USA Relay for Life team, Poole said.
‘We do a penny drive every year,? she said. ‘This year, they (the school’s students and staff) asked for a cause for it to go toward, and I suggested the American Cancer Society.?