Kids Making a Change in the Battle against Cancer

Colquitt - In a campaign to help find cures for cancer and provide help and hope to thousands of patients and their families, more than 550 students at Miller County Middle and High School have collected $1037.70 worth of spare change through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Pennies for Patients program.

This is the second year Miller County Middle School has participated. Last year, students raised $877.20. Graduation Coach Amanda Long is coordinating the effort. "We are a caring community that strives to give back to this community because of the support that we as Miller County citizens have received," Long says "Community service is something that has a bad stigma in most people's eyes. I would like them to realize that it is also a good thing. It is something that can benefit many people of all races, ages and gender. I want the students of today to see the importance of helping those less fortunate and in need of our support- especially those fighting cancer."

"This is a story of kids helping kids as well as the greater community," said Dick Brown, executive director of the Society's Georgia Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20, so there is a critical need for research and patient services. More than 747,000 Americans are battling leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma today, so every penny really does make a difference. We are so proud of these students. They serve as examples for others to follow."

Pennies for Patients is a value-building program for elementary and secondary schools. Students collect money, starting with their own spare change, to support the Society's research and patient services programs. The top classroom in each qualifying school receives a party.

About School and Youth Programs

During the 2004-2005 school year, more than 8.5 million students from 16,000 schools across the United States raised more than $13 million through school and youth. Nearly 500,000 students in Georgia raised

nearly $400,000 during last year's campaign. Since its inception, School and Youth Programs have raised more than $81 million, making them the thirdlargest Society fund-raiser.

 

Registering for the Society's School and Youth programs is fast and easy at www.schoolandyouth.org/ga. Teachers, parents and school administrators may also call Amy Stapleton, School and Youth Campaign coordinator, at 678.279.2044 for more information.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®, headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 66 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The Society's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested more than $424 million in research specificallytargeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, the Society made 2.5 million contacts with patients, caregivers and health care professionals.