Published June 02. 2010 05:00PM
The Panther Valley Middle School held its Third Annual Mini Relay For Life recently at the Middle School for all the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. Students, parents, and staff raiser more than $2,400 for the American Cancer Society to fight cancer via various school dances, fundraisers and activities.
Door decorating contests and penny wars (in which students and classes would compete to bring in the most pennies) were also ways of raising donations. Middle school nurse Ann Davis organized the year long worth of fundraising events and the relay.This year's Relay For Life Theme was called "Prowling For A Cure." Classes were encouraged to walk the mini Relay For Life dressed up as themed characters and with banners stating their themes. Students from each grade came out during school for an hour each to walk during the relay. During the relay, names of past cancer victims were also read over a public address system. Kathy Inama also helped put the event together.Representatives from the Tamaqua-Carbon American Cancer Society were also on hand during the relay. Both Davis and Inama stressed their appreciation to all the dedicated students, staff, volunteers andcontributors that helped put the event together or provide donations.
ANDREW LEIBENGUTH/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS Seventh graders pictured during the relay, from left, are Mrs. Davis homeroom class Grant Lorkowski and Nick Mazzie dressed as a hotdog and pepper shaker to represent their class theme of "Cooking For A Cure." Wearing red shirts are Mrs Gardiner's students Colin Johnson and Macey Markovich dressed as sports boxers to represent their class theme of "Knock Out Cancer." Third from right is Jeffrey Gangaware, also from Mrs Davis class. Pictured on far right are Mrs Williams students Marcus Mock (second from right) and Cody Choma dressed as fisherman to represent their classes theme of "Gone Fishing."