Lehighton Area Middle School Student Advisory Council held a Sports Marathon on March 9 to raise funds in support of the American Cancer Society.

The students were challenged to come up with an idea where they could raise more money for the cancer society than they did the previous year. Students feel it is important to support this great organization because this deadly disease has hit their building very hard over the last year and a half as we they lost two student and a staff member to cancer.In the past the Council sponsored a student-faculty basketball game and dance.Students planned the event in mid-February and within two weeks there was a commitment of 58 students to participate in the seven hour marathon. Seventh grader Tyler Dietz was in charge of a committee to organize events to take up the time period. Officers Ben Cordova, president; Devon Linaberry, secretary; and Cammi, treasurer, helped with the organization.Students who signed up to participate had only five days to secure sponsors to be part of this fun filled evening.During the evening the students were divided into eight teams of seven players each and they participated in a round robin tournament of each sport. The events that were held were: volleyball, basketball, Indian ball (dodgeball), scooter soccer and relay races. Each team included members from fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades.Overall 27 eighth grade students (10 girls, 17 boys), five seventh graders (3 boys, two girls), 13 sixth graders (two girls, 11 boys), and 13 fifth graders (10 girls, three boys) students participated.The event doubled the amount in which they raised in 2011, and the students will be presenting the money at The American Cancer Society Telethon on the weekend of April 14 and April 15.John J Lopata, advisor of the Student Council, commented that the students did a great job planning and participating in the event and that he was very pleased with everyone involved. Faculty and parents donated food to feed the students, along with Alfie's pizza and hoagies, veggie trays, snack food, Gatoraide, water, Zimmie's iced tea and orange drink.Helping with the officiate the events along with John Lopata were teachers; Ron Rabenold, Pam Firkal, Sharon Focht, Jacob Molchany, Thomas Weidner, Terri Kokinda, Kim Lusch, Tim Sharrow, Kenneth Eck III and Jennifer Lopata. Also helping for the evening were Principal Mark McGalla, assistant principal Michael DeAngelo, Richard and Candy Harleman, Mrs. Dowbachk, Cindy Cordova, secretary Kathy Goldberg and her husband, Glenn.Everyone involved had a great time and were happy to be involved. The Student Advisory Council will be holding its 13th Annual Talent Show at 7 p.m. Friday, March 23 at the Middle School auditorium and some of the proceeds from the evening will also be donated to the Cancer Society.