'These Kids Get It'
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
Thursday is the last day of classes in the Bradford Area School District, but students at Fretz Middle School won’t be counting the minutes until the final bell rings.
They’ll be counting laps, and the money they’re raising for the American Cancer Society, in their first-ever Mini Relay for Life.
Fran Stewart of the cancer society explained on Thursday’s LiveLine on WESB that school principal Tina Slaven and teacher Judy Abbey contacted her saying they really wanted to get involved with the cancer society, and were looking for ideas. From there, mini relay was born.
“It will have all the aspects of the big relay,” Stewart said, “just miniaturized.”
The mini relay is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 3, and will feature a dunk tank, tug-o-war game and other activities, as well as a live broadcast by Scott Douglas on WESB starting at 11 a.m.
To get ready for the relay, the school held an art contest to determine the design of the official mini relay T-shirt.
“The energy in that school,” Stewart said. “They totally understood about cancer and fighting back.”
Stewart and cancer survivor Amy Silvis were at the school on May 14 for a kick-off event.
Stewart said when Silvis mentioned that she only has five more weeks of treatment, the students “clapped and were so excited for her.”
But she did say she and Silvis were in shock when they asked the students to raise their hands if they had been affected by cancer in some way.
“So many hands were raised,” Stewart said. “These kids get it. They are just so excited about doing this. They really are great kids.”
She added that “the teachers are all gung-ho and talking about additional fundraisers.”
And, Fretz involvement won’t end on the day of the mini relay. They will have a float in the annual Relay for Life Parade on June 17. They will also do a special lap during the relay, which is June 18 and 19 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
“When we can get the schools involved …” Stewart said. “Youth is what keeps the relay going. … Youth is very important to us to keep building and keep relay strong.”
WESB/WBRR News Director
Thursday is the last day of classes in the Bradford Area School District, but students at Fretz Middle School won’t be counting the minutes until the final bell rings. They’ll be counting laps, and the money they’re raising for the American Cancer Society, in their first-ever Mini Relay for Life.
Fran Stewart of the cancer society explained on Thursday’s LiveLine on WESB that school principal Tina Slaven and teacher Judy Abbey contacted her saying they really wanted to get involved with the cancer society, and were looking for ideas. From there, mini relay was born.
“It will have all the aspects of the big relay,” Stewart said, “just miniaturized.”
The mini relay is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 3, and will feature a dunk tank, tug-o-war game and other activities, as well as a live broadcast by Scott Douglas on WESB starting at 11 a.m.
To get ready for the relay, the school held an art contest to determine the design of the official mini relay T-shirt.
“The energy in that school,” Stewart said. “They totally understood about cancer and fighting back.”
Stewart and cancer survivor Amy Silvis were at the school on May 14 for a kick-off event.
Stewart said when Silvis mentioned that she only has five more weeks of treatment, the students “clapped and were so excited for her.”
But she did say she and Silvis were in shock when they asked the students to raise their hands if they had been affected by cancer in some way.
“So many hands were raised,” Stewart said. “These kids get it. They are just so excited about doing this. They really are great kids.”
She added that “the teachers are all gung-ho and talking about additional fundraisers.”
And, Fretz involvement won’t end on the day of the mini relay. They will have a float in the annual Relay for Life Parade on June 17. They will also do a special lap during the relay, which is June 18 and 19 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
“When we can get the schools involved …” Stewart said. “Youth is what keeps the relay going. … Youth is very important to us to keep building and keep relay strong.”
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