Leoti Students Collect Coins to Find a Cure

Students at Wichita County Junior High School recently kicked off the 2010 Pennies for Patients Campaign to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. They will participate in this program by competing in a Penny War competition. For three weeks, students will bring their spare pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to school and contribute them to their homeroom’s collection jar in the main office. Their spare change will add up to save the lives of people touched by blood cancers.

In 2009, $19million was raised by schools throughout the country, which participated in School & Youth Programs like Pennies for Patients. Several schools in Kansas are participating in the campaign. Funds raised through these schools support LLS’s mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Thanks to the fantastic efforts from last year, 285 Kansas schools raised over $185,000. This year, the goal grew to $200,000 and Wichita County Junior High School is helping the Kansas Chapter reach that goal.

As the Wichita County Junior High School students participate in the local Penny Wars, each homeroom wants to contribute silver money and dollar bills to their jar. However, for every penny distributed in the jar, that dollar amount will be subtracted from the homeroom total. The highest fundraising homeroom in the school will receive a pizza and pop party. However, everyone is a winner! Furthermore, each school is eligible for fantastic prizes. The top two fundraising schools and the top two schools for the biggest dollar amount collected per student will earn prizes by the Kansas Chapter staff.

So, if you would like to help a local junior high student and would like to donate to the Pennies for Patients campaign, you may contact any junior high student or send your donations to the school. Please note on your donation which junior high student you wish to receive the credit for your donation. Please make checks payable to The Leukemia; Lymphoma Society or LLS. For more information please contact Heather Holstein or Leslie Niswonger at the school (375-2213).