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Neighbors | Zack Shively.Union Elementary School began their annual Relay for Life campaign on Jan. 24 with a carnation sale. The carnations went home with students on Valentine's Day. The school raised approximately $500 through the sale. Pictured are Pano Hostal, Lilth Carraino, Stone Garcia and Zoe Stephens with carnations.
By ZACK SHIVELY
Union Elementary School began their Relay for Life campaign on Jan. 24 with a carnation sale.
The school sold the carnations for $1 each and delivered them home with the students on Valentine’s Day. All proceeds from the sale went toward the American Cancer Society, the sponsor of Relay for Life.
“Everyone has or knows someone whose life has been affected by cancer,” said Chrissy Garcia, a PTO member involved with the Relay for Life team. She said she hopes the Relay for Life team and events raise the community’s awareness for cancer prevention and early detection, while getting the younger children better educated and keeping alive the memory of those lost to cancer.
The school has participated in Relay for Life for many years, but this year they will open the team to the other schools, organizations, local businesses and the community, creating a Poland community team to raise money.
The school raised approximately $500 through the carnation sale.
The PTO plans to do other small events monthly before summer vacation. They plan to have a walkathon event later in the year as well as a shadow the principal day, where a student will get to spend the day with Union’s principal Michael Masucci.
The PTO typically does a “pink flamingo” program where they place pink flamingos in yards throughout the community and residents pay to have them removed. Garcia said the PTO has done this program before the elementary schools combined.
The Poland Relay for Life event will take place at Dave Pavlansky Field, the school district’s athletic field near the high school, on June 23. The event will have seven teams raising money for the American Cancer Society.