Kids Helping Kids

Mimi Moore

Do you know what leukemia or lymphoma is? Leukemia is a form of cancer of blood forming tissues, hindering the ability to fight infection. Lymphoma is a group of blood cell tumors that develops from lymphocytes. Well, the STLP students of Ekron Elementary School are finding a way to help people with this illness. It’s called “Pennies for Patients”.

Madison, a fifth grade student in STLP, told me all about Pennies for Patients which are mainly about providing money to fund for people with leukemia and lymphoma. The funds go towards medical bills and gas bills. Over 29,000 schools are involved with this fundraiser! They decided to get involved with the activity because there is a very young third grader that attends Ekron Elementary School that has been diagnosed with leukemia twice.

Ekron Elementary received tiny boxes to put pennies in for this program. Also, students had to donate at least $0.25 to participate in dress up days. The dress up days included Crazy Hair Day, Crazy Sock Day, Mustache Day, Pajama Day, and Nerd Day. In addition to the boxes and dress up days, the sixth graders of the school set up another fundraiser called “Love Pops” where students had to pay $0.25 for one sucker.

Hanna, a fifth grade STLP member, informed me that in 1960, you had a three percent chance of surviving if you had leukemia. Today your survival rate is up to 97 percent from any blood cancer! You can visit the website http//:www.penniesforpatients.org to learn more about what leukemia and lymphoma are and how you can participate in the Pennies for Patients fundraiser. The website also includes how you and your school can win prizes by participating.

The Pennies for Patients program has raised over $875 million for research to advance therapies and save lives. Over $385,000 in funds came from Kentucky and Southern Indiana! Today, the grand total that Ekron Elementary has raised for Pennies for Patients is $1,759.63! Maybe, in the future, there will be a 100 percent chance of survival!