In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, during September, the Cypress Falls High School’s Cheer team organized a fundraiser selling t-shirts and accessories where one-hundred percent of the proceeds were donated to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.
This year, cheer contributed $885, an increase of the $605 they raised in 2023.
“I’m glad that we improved from last year,” Head Cheer Coach Jacqueline Hart said.
As part of their yearly philanthropic project, cheer focused on making a positive impact by spreading awareness.
“The goal is to always make more money to donate than the year before,” Coach Hart said. “Some years are more difficult than others, but we know that St. Jude appreciates anything we are able to send them.”
Cheer raised money the entire month of September, but students and staff showed their support by wearing purchased t-shirts and accessories on Friday, September 26 for Gold Out Spirit Day as for the following football game at Darrell Tully Stadium.
“Along with the t-shirts, we’re gonna be giving out gold beaded necklaces, yellow sunglasses, and a gold ribbon temporary tattoo,” Cheer Coach Jensen Smith said.
Approximately one in 300 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer. The average age of diagnosis ranges from six to fourteen years old with the most common types of cancer that is found in children being leukemias, brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and lymphomas. Families who are affected by this deal with other emotional struggles that come from these concerns.
“Because so many families experience it- it’s just something to spread awareness about for our families that are suffering as a result of it,” Coach Smith said.
As many of our staff and students have had experience with this, cheer recognizes the importance of spreading awareness to help support families all around the community.
“I have a friend whose son was diagnosed with cancer last year, and just watching him go through chemo and radiation, it just really opened up eyes to what a lot of very young kids are dealing with,” Coach Smith said.
Cheer contributes to the two billion dollars in donations St Jude’s receives each year which helps ensure that all patients that are accepted are not billed and receive free care.
