No. 14 Vol. 4
New View Media Group • 1-800-691-7549
February 28, 2018
Wayne Middle School Continues To Fight Childhood Cancer
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By Anya Bochman i d d l e School and former Leukemia and Lymphoma Society “Honored Hero,” speak to the eighthgrade class about the Pennies for Patients donation drive. Ava, a sixthgrade student at S ch u yl er- C o l faxMiddle School in Wayne, is unfortunately no stranger to blood cancer education, having been diagnosed
with leukemia at the age of three. Now in remission, Ava was an “Honored Hero” for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a voluntary health organization dedicated to funding research, finding cures and ensuring access to treatments for blood cancer patients. An Honored Hero is “a dedicated individual, patient or survivor of blood cancer, who provides inspiration and support
to [LLS] participants, volunteers and staff.” It was perhaps serendipitous that Ava entered Schuyler-Colfax without knowing about the school’s history of collecting funds for blood cancers through their Pennies for Patients campaign. Since 2006, the school has raised $76,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Last year, the drive exceeded the administration’s expectations with collections totaling $15,000 and leading the school to set sights on an even higher number of $25,000. Schools that raise this amount are eligible to link their name with various LLS-funded research projects. The kick-off for this year’s campaign took place on Feb. 6 in a ceremony that included speeches by the school Principal Matthew Mignanelli, and Drive Coordinator and Schuyler-Colfax Language
Noel Anderson, collection drive coordinator, and Ava, a sixth-grade student at Schuyler-Colfax
Instructor Noel Anderson. Genna Toye, a representative from LLS, gave a presentation that educated students on the nature of childhood blood cancers and centered on the theme of “heroes” as patients, teachers and fellow students. The presenta-
tion concluded with magician Michael Turco, a Wayne native who has been featured on “America’s Got Talent,” performing magic tricks in addition to discussing his recent diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The collection officially began on
Feb. 7, with Schuyler-Colfax raising money and awareness for blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, myeloma and histiocytosis. Anderson, who explained the origins of the program at the school, cont. on page 4