Elementary students working for a cause

By Carole Brand
Published: May 03, 2009

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Zion Chapel Elementary School students have one goal in common - to raise funds to provide a cure for cancer.

Sixth-grader and elementary Student Government Association President Faith Dewberry said SGA officers and representatives “just want to help find a cure”
“Some of us have family members who have cancer or who have had it and it’s a good cause,” she said in the classroom of SGA sponsor and teacher Ginger Vinson. “We want to help cure people and that’s why we’ve worked really hard.”

Vinson said the annual Coffee County Relay for Life project for the American Cancer Society has been so successful these past two years.

“The elementary and high school have been involved with Relay the past two years and we’ve raised a total in the two years of almost $20,000,” she said. “Last year, we raised over $10,000, but this year has been slim so far because of the recession.”

Even though things seem tight, the students continue their journey for the goal of raising money for the ACS.

“We’re continuing to sale tickets on a $500 WalMart gift card,” Vinson said. “The teachers participate schoolwide and the Jack community has been so wonderful to help us. Whenever the kids are involved, the community becomes involved.”

Tickets on Alabama/Auburn chairs are continuing to be sold by the students to help raise funds, along with Relay for Life kid-designed T-shirts.

“The T-shirts are an annual fundraiser and we’ve sold candles and other things since our team kick off in February,” Vinson said. “We’re looking forward to see how much money we can raise because this is important to our whole community.”

The Coffee County Relay for Life is Friday, May 15, at the Enterprise-Ozark Community College track. The public is invited to attend.