Henry Elementary Students Help Raise $8K For Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The following information was provided by the Parkway School District in a news release.

Students at Parkway’s West Middle and Henry Elementary schools raised $8,300 for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS’s).  The students raised money in memory of their former classmate, Mina Sze.  The funds were collected through Hats On Day and the Light the Night walk.

The West Middle Hat Day raised $713 and the Henry Hat Day raised $435.  Students donated a $1.00 or more to wear a hat to school. Over 100 walkers participated in the Light the Night walk.

Two years ago Henry Elementary lost one of their classmates after a brave struggle with leukemia. To honor their friend Mina Sze, they created “Team Mina” to walk at the Light the Night Walk.

Parkway provided the following descriptions of the fundraising events.

Hats On Day

Hats On Day was founded in 1995 by four sixth-graders at Henry Elementary.  They began the fundraiser when their friend and classmate Kevin Beffa was diagnosed with a type of childhood cancer called Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Kevin had been a bright, happy child with a passion for soccer. When he got sick, he began to miss school, had to give up his favorite sport, and lost all of his hair from treatment. Kevin also needed a bone marrow transplant, so Hats On Day was planned to show support for Kevin during his suffering and to raise money for his surgery. However, just days before the event, Kevin passed away.

Hats On Day has grown to be one of the most influential and profitable fund-raisers among school age children, raising over $1,000,000 in the past 10 years.

Light The Night Walk 

Each year, in communities all across the United States and Canada teams of families, friends, co-workers and local and national corporations come together to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk events and bring help and hope to people battling blood cancers.

Light The Night Walk events are evenings filled with inspiration. During this leisurely walk, walkers carry illuminated balloons - white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer - thousands of walkers - men, women and children - form a community of caring, bringing light to the dark world of cancer.