District 202 staff members to participate in 2010 Relay for Life
Teams from Creekside and River View elementary schools, Aux Sable and Timber Ridge middle schools, Plainfield High School-Central Campus and the District 202 Technology department will walk to raise money for the American Cancer Society in the 12th annual Relay for Life event in Plainfield.
Relay for Life is an overnight walk and run that helps to raise money for research and programs through the American Cancer Society. This year's Relay will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2010, at Plainfield North High School, 12005 South 248th Street, Plainfield. Registration will start at noon.
Creekside will be represented by two teams of walkers: "Creekside's Cool Crew" and "Creekside's Cool Crew 2" for their fifth consecutive year participating in Relay for Life.
This year, the 24 team members are getting the entire school involved in their fundraising efforts by hosting a competition between classes.
The Creekside class that raises the most money will throw purple (the official color of Relay for Life) water balloons out of the school window onto the Creekside Relay for Life team members below.
The activity is symbolic - team members will represent cancer cells and the water balloons will represent a cure. The balloons will be launched at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 1, 2010. Creekside is located at 13909 South Budler Road, Plainfield.
The River View Elementary School, "Team BFF," was named for all of the friends of team members that have lost their lives to cancer.
Team leader, River View first grade teacher Joei Ocenasek, started the team in honor of her best friend who passed away in February of 2009 after battling ostersarcoma for more than two years.
The "Aux Sable Bulldogs: Taking a Bite Out of Cancer" includes eight team members representing Aux Sable staff, students, family and friends. The school's National Junior Honor Society raised $800 for the team at their own "Walk for the Cure" event, held on Tuesday, May 18, 2010.
"As a staff, we thought the Relay for Life would be a great opportunity for us to come together, support a community effort and share in an unforgettable experience," Aux Sable teacher Kristina Spear said.
"We also feel this is an excellent way for us to honor those we know who have battled cancer at one time or another," Spear said.
Timber Ridge Middle School's, "Team Terrific" is a family team. Four of the Timber Ridge staffers will be joined by their children during the walk, and all have a loved one who is currently battling or who has battled cancer. They are also walking for two Timber Ridge students who are battling brain cancer.
"I feel this year that I am really walking for another purpose, no child of 13 or 14 should be dealing with what these kids are," Timber Ridge eighth grade teacher Stacy Zallis said.
The team has raised money for Relay for Life throughout the school year with a Culver's night and a jeans day. The two eighth grade teams of students also raised $1,148 through their "Kids Making a Difference" bowling fundraiser that they donated to "Team Terrific."
In addition, a team of National Honor Society students from Plainfield High School-Central Campus and staff members from the District 202 technology department are participating.
For more information on the teams, how to get involved, or how to donate, please visit the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life web site at www.relayforlife.com