Local school raises money for faculty with cancer

By Kelly Morse

Edited By Sarah Schuch and Meredith Mayberry

A group of 20 parents and teachers have helped raise over $2,000 for Keisha Brown who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

They call themselves the Pink Angels and will be walking in the Susan G. Komen Race for breast cancer in Lansing, April 27 at 2 p.m to support cancer research and Brown, Sacred Heart Academy’s athletic director and varsity boys’ basketball coach .

A survival walk will take place at the beginning of the event. Cancer survivors will be guided around the capital building and will finish up on the capital steps.

“We are the Pink Angels because Keisha is a breast cancer survivor and her daughter’s name is Angel,” said Kelli Ingram, team captain.

This Friday, Sacred Heart is putting on a fundraiser. Students K-12 are asked to bring in $1 for the privilege of not having to wear a uniform and $5 if they want to wear shorts. The school has a policy that students have to wear uniforms everyday and cannot wear shorts until May 1.

“If you have to wear red or navy blue everyday of the week, it’s a big incentive,” said Lee Ann Puhlman, Sacred Heart Academy Elementary assistant principle. “With grades one through six the turnout is 100 percent.”

On Fridays, the school usually puts on fundraisers to benefit local non-profit organizations such as the American Red Cross and the animal shelter. This Friday has been nicknamed Pink Day and students are encouraged to wear the color to show support for the cause.

“The Pink Angels team is encouraging the students to bring in at least a dollar for these women,” said Mary Kay Reetz, Sacred Heart Academy admissions director.

In the past, students have been given the option to bring in either a canned good or money in order to get the incentives, but this week the women are just asking for money.

“We had a goal of raising $2,000,” Ingram said. “We surpassed our goal and we even have a few more fundraisers left.”

The next fundraiser will be at Coco Joe’s on April 27 from 4:30 until 8:30 p.m. From every $10 meatball spaghetti or fettuccini dinner, $5 will be donated to the cause.