Search results matching tag 'fundraiser'

‘Kennel Up’ raises $16K for ARL

Bedford Editor — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:20:00 GMT

BY JILLIAN JORGENSEN

In a unique fundraiser, volunteers “kenneled up” at the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire’s Bedford shelter, raising more than $16,000 in the drive, exceeding its $15,000 goal.

“That was an excessive goal,” said Robin McCune, coordinator of events and community relations at the ARL. “When we set it, we thought we were more likely to raise ($8,000 to $10,000.)”

The first “Kennel Up” event was held Oct. 22.

Fundraising has been especially important for the shelter this year because of a spike in health care costs. The shelter budgeted $39,000 for animal medical expenses in 2009, but has already spent $88,000.

“With the economy, a lot of people can’t afford it if their animal gets sick,” McCune said.

Volunteers were reaching out to people by phone, email and Facebook, any way they could find to make contact, said Sheryl Hammond, who has served on the ARL’s board of directors in the past and will return next year. Many took pictures of themselves in the kennel – “kenneled up” – and posted them as part of their online fundraising appeals.

“Hopefully I will be able to leave a kennel today,” Hammond joked.

She said the shelter is not well-endowed and gets no state or federal funding. All the money comes from private donations.

“We never have a problem with our enthusiasm and our commitment to raising funds for the animals,” she said.

As part of the fundraising drive, there were seminars held throughout the day about the work that goes on at the ARL and the needs of the shelter.

Adoption counselor Sara Nicosia asked the volunteers to guess how many pounds of cat litter the shelter goes through daily. The magic number was 300 pounds. The shelter also uses 125 cups of cat food and 50 cups of dog food a day, totaling 63,875 in a year. To illustrate that point, Nicosia brought in Tornado, a chubby cat who sauntered around the room until he finally found a closet where the cat food was stored.

“Sometimes, cats like Tornado eat more than their share,” Nicosia said. Nicosia said it costs $2,500 a day to run the shelter, and adoption fees pay for only 10 percent of that. “This is a lovely place for them to stay,” she said. “It costs a lot to run a shelter properly and keep the animals healthy.”

Leah Belanger said she did most of her fundraising for the day through e-mail and Facebook.

“We’ve had a lot of people give a little bit,” she said. Even though money is tight, animals are still in need, she said. “They’re still in need of our food and shelter and care,” she said. “They’re at our mercy.”

‘Thrill the World’ zombies raise money for Holly’s Hope

Bedford Editor — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:24:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

While donning a torn white shirt and wearing makeup, Erin Johnson, 17, moved like a zombie across the Bedford High School gymnasium floor.

Johnson, along with more than 100 other zombies, danced to the hit Michael Jackson song, “Thriller,” during a charity event aimed at helping set a new world record for the largest simultaneous dance while aiding a local student afflicted with a neuromuscular disorder.

“Thrill the World, Bedford, NH,” held Saturday, Oct. 24, raised $4,000 for Holly’s Hope, a local nonprofit organization. The money will be channeled to Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance, a Virginiabased organization known as FARA that is committed to finding a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia, a debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative neuromuscular disease.

“It’s going to a good cause,” said Johnson, a Bedford High senior. “It’s exciting to be part of a world record. People responded and wanted to be in it. I’m impressed people dressed up and came to support a member of our community.”

“Thrill the World” is an annual international dance phenomenon. As the “zombies” in Bedford performed the six-minute “Thriller” dance, starting at 8:30 p.m., so, too, did thousands of other people around the globe.

Last year, 4,179 people in 10 countries simultaneously danced to the song. Because of Jackson’s death last June, organizers hoped to draw 270,000 participants this year in order to break a Guinness World Record.

Going into Saturday, there were registered dance events in more than 33 countries. Volunteers who organize a “Thrill the World” event in their community can tie the dance to a cause of their choice. Holly’s Hope is named for Holly Franz, 15, a Bedford High sophomore who has FA and uses a wheelchair at school.

Kelsey Poremba, a BHS senior, organized the local fundraiser. Her efforts will help her fulfill the Creativity Action and Service activities requirement of the school’s International Baccalaureate program.

“I think the turnout was amazing,” Franz said. “There were so many dancers and so many spectators. To (attach) Holly’s Hope to this event – that was so great. We didn’t ask for it. Kelsey said, ‘We want to do this for you.’”

Holly’s Hope was started by Holly and her friend and schoolmate, Jess Wojenski. The organization sells handmade jewelry and donates the proceeds to FARA to help find a cure.

Volunteers at the dance sold raffle tickets, “Thrill the World” T-shirts, jewelry and food. Tracey Ivester of Tracey’s Boutique of Merrimack painted faces for $6 each. Ivester, the sister of guidance counselor Lisa Jacques, donated half of her proceeds to the cause. “Thriller” was released in the early 1980s. A 14-minute music video of the same name features Jackson dancing with zombies and a dialogue by Vincent Price.

The dance, held a week before Halloween, was decorated to create a spooky look. Bleacher railings were draped with cobwebs and orange lights. A skeleton was dressed in a black cape. As people walked into the gym, they encountered a long, yellow tape carrying the warning, “Caution: Enter if you dare.”

Organizers encouraged people of all ages to participate and hosted a pair of workshops at the school earlier in the month to teach the dance. Many of the participants also practiced at home while watching a video online.

“It’s fun,” said Karla McManus, who came with her daughter, Hannah, 9. “We learned a new dance and we’re supporting Holly. It’s a good cause.”

“I always loved ‘Thriller,’” said BHS freshman Daniel Alvarado, 14, who was excited to help set a possible new world record. “It’s a great song. It was really heartbreaking for everyone all over the world when (Michael Jackson) died.”

In addition to the dancers, the event drew 120 people who paid to watch from the bleachers. People even came from Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine.

Some participants hadn’t previously met Holly but had read about the fundraiser in the newspaper.

“It puts together two things near and dear to me – helping someone and dancing,” said Vicki Farer of Bedford, a former dance instructor.

“I love the ‘Thriller’ dance and the music video and learning the dance,” said Sherie Prior, 25, who drove about an hour from Webster, a small town near Concord, so she could join in the fun. “Now, you can break out (and do the dance) at parties.”

When the dance ended, participants hugged each other and exchanged highfives. And they cheered when they learned how many people came and how much money was raised.

Organizers already are talking about making the dance an annual fundraiser. “Hopefully, we’ll get some people to do this next year,” Wojenski said. “That would be cool, if we could get it going again. It could be an annual event here.”

The dance was not the first time Bedford High students have rallied to help Holly’s Hope. A talent show held last January raised more than $5,000 for the cause. Holly’s mother, Hannelore Federspill, is grateful to the school community for their efforts.

“I don’t know if words can describe it,” she said after the dance. “I was overwhelmed. I was so appreciative. This high school never ceases to amaze me. They all have good hearts.”

Fundraiser will help set global record for ‘Thriller’ dance

Bedford Editor — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:00:00 GMT

By Darrell Halen

When a crowd of people dance to the Michael Jackson song “Thriller” at Bedford High School a week before Halloween, they will not just be part of an effort to set a world record for the largest simultaneous dance. They will also be raising money to help a local girl and other victims of a debilitating, degenerative neuromuscular disorder.

Ticket proceeds from “Thrill the World, Bedford, N.H.” will be sent to an organization committed to finding a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia. The money will be channeled through Holly’s Hope, a local nonprofit organization named for Holly Franz, 15, of Bedford, who is battling FA.

“I think it’s an extremely important cause,” said one of Holly’s friends, Kelsey Poremba, 17, who is organizing the Oct. 24 charity event. “Holly is a member of our community. We should support her and her family.”

The fundraiser is part of Thrill the World, an international dance event and world-record-breaking attempt. As the people gathered in Bedford High’s gymnasium dance in unison to “Thriller” at 8:30 that night, so too will others in Beijing, Johannesburg, Buenos Aires and other places around the globe.

Thrill the World, created by Canadian dance teacher Ines Markeljevic, evolved from a dance with 62 participants three years ago and has since grown into an international phenomenon that draws thousands of participants.

Last year, 4,179 people in 10 countries simultaneously performed the dance. Because of Jackson’s death last June, organizers expect more participants this year.

Poremba, a senior, is enrolled in Bedford High’s International Baccalaureate program. Her fundraising efforts will help her fulfill the program’s Creativity Action and Service (CAS) activities requirement.

“I think it’s a really cool idea,” said Holly, a BHS sophomore.

Approximately 1 in 50,000 people in the United States have FA. Progressive loss of muscle strength and coordination in its victims leads to motor incapacitation and full-time wheelchair use.

Signs and symptoms may include muscle weakness in legs and arms, vision impairment, hearing loss, abnormal speech, curvature of the spine, heart disorders, and fatigue due to energy deprivation and muscle loss. Some victims develop diabetes.

Holly started showing signs of the disease around the age of 9 – walking off balance and swaying while trying to zip her coat were early signs – but she wasn’t officially diagnosed until she was 11.

So far, the disorder has mainly affected her legs. She often uses a wheelchair. Although she loves tennis, soccer and gymnastics, she can no longer play sports.

Holly and her friend, Jess Wojenski, started Holly’s Hope. The organization sells handmade jewelry and donates the proceeds to Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance, known as FARA, to help find a cure.

Anyone can participate in the Oct. 24 fundraiser. But participants must know how to do the dance when they arrive.

“That’s the biggest thing – to know it before (the event),” said Poremba. “Because it takes a solid two, three hours, depending on how skilled you are as a dancer, (to learn it).”

People can learn the six-minute dance on their own – teaching videos are available online – or they can attend one of the October workshops that Poremba is organizing. People who attend a workshop will be registered for the dance.

So far, approximately 100 people plan to participate in the fundraiser.

“We’re hoping to get as many (people) as possible,” said Wojenski, a BHS senior who is serving as Poremba’s assistant event manager.

“Thriller” is a hit song that was released in the early 1980s. A 14-minute video of the same name features Jackson dancing with zombies and a rap by Vincent Price.

Thrill the World organizers hope to have 270,000 participants this year in order to break a Guinness World Record. According to the event’s Web site, there are registered events in 42 states and 34 countries. Some participants will be dancing during the wee hours of the morning in their time zone.

There are volunteer event organizers in communities throughout the world and each event can raise money for a charity. With patience and the right attitude, according to organizers, anyone – from kids to grandparents – can learn the dance in just a couple of hours.

Participants at the Bedford event are welcome to wear costumes. Poremba, Franz and Wojenski will be dressed as zombies.

Poremba has been drawing praise for her efforts. Her mother, Helen, is excited that she’s organizing a big event that supports a great cause. Many of Poremba’s friends are participating and her teachers like the idea, too.

“A lot of them think it’s great and they’re really supportive,” said Poremba.

Want to participate?
“Thrill the World, Bedford, N.H.” will take place in the Bedford High School gymnasium, 47 Nashua Road, on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Registration begins at 6 p.m., rehearsal kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and the dance starts at 8:30 p.m.

The cost is $5 per person to dance or watch. Spectators should arrive at 8 p.m.

Participants must know how to do the dance. They can learn it at www.thrilltheworld.com/learn/videos. There will also be optional workshops to learn the dance from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 10, in the school gymnasium.

Workshop participants should bring $5 to register for the dance. To participate, contact Kelsey Poremba at ttw09.bedfordhighNH@gmail.com. For information about the event, go to www.thrilltheworld.com. Information about Holly’s Hope is available at www.hollyshope.pbworks.com.

Information about the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance is available at www.curefa.org.

Luis Tiant to Attend Seagars by the Sea Benefit in Portland on September 27

AskLisa — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:48:00 GMT

Cigar fans will be gathering along the Old Port waterfront for the upcoming Seagars by the Sea event, to be held Sunday, September 27. Seagars by the Sea is the inaugural Maine fundraiser for Homes For Our Troops, a national non-profit organization created to raise funds for the construction and adaptation of homes for severely disabled war veterans.

Red Sox pitching legend Luis Tiant ("El Tiante"), a longtime cigar aficionado, will attend the fundraiser, and will be offering autographed baseballs and cigar boxes for auction. Also up for auction will be humidors from Ashton, Cuban Crafters, & Davidoff Cigars.

The September 27 event, to take place from 2 to 6 p.m. on Long Wharf (in front of DiMillo's Floating Restaurant; 25 Long Wharf, Portland, ME), is expected to be a sell-out. It will feature cigars from five Maine cigar retailers who will be on hand to educate and answer questions from participants. In addition to the cigars, a cash bar will be available, and guests will be able to meet Miss Massachusetts United States and Miss Maine International 2009.

One hundred percent of the proceeds generated by Seagars By The Sea will go to Homes for Our Troops. Tickets ($50) entitle guests to enjoy cigars from each of the event's cigar retailers (estimated value of $50-$100).

The fundraiser comes at a time when Homes For Our Troops is in desperate need of national support. "A bunch of us here in Maine feel so strongly about doing more than just saying we support our troops, but helping to do something about that," noted Jacques DeVilliers, Owner of Portland's Old Port Wine Merchants. "If we can donate some fine cigars to help raise funds and awareness of this important issue - and if we can lure people out for a pretty fun day in the process - then we've at least helped in some modest way."

Event organizers hope to raise $10,000. Tickets can be purchased by calling 207-772-9463, and also are available at participating retail locations, including Old Port Wine Merchants, Freeport Trading, DAD's Cigar Parlor, Cigar and Smoke Shoppe, and Calabash.

For more information about the September 27 event, visit http://www.SeagarsByTheSea.wordpress.com. See http://www.HomesForOurTroops.org for additional information about Homes for Our Troops.

Information about Fundraiser Event

Paul LaFerriere — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:53:00 GMT

The Hudson Fish and Game Club will be holding a fundraising event for Catch-A-Dream organization. Catch-A-Dream grants once-in-a-lifetime outdoor experiences to children 18 years old or younger who have a life-threatening illness. Catch-A-Dream's singular purpose is to provide consumptive use outdoor experiences to fill the “gap” created when the Make-A-Wish Foundation established national policy that precludes granting a child a wish that involves hunting or use of “...firearms, hunting bows, or other hunting or sport-shooting equipment.”

This is a 501(c)3 tax- exempt charitable organization.

100% of all funds raised go to Catch-A-Dream Foundation.

Cost: $35.00 per person and allows you entry to participate in the silent auction and raffles and multiple door prizes.

Choice of a Twin Lobster Dinner with steamers or Fillet Minion Dinner

If you would like to make a Reservation or a Donation, please go to our web site www.hudsonfishandgame.com

Tickets will be reserved for you at the door.

Check our web site for the items that have been donated as of August 19, 2009.

Crispin’s House tournament on deck

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:48:00 GMT

The seventh annual Crispin’s House One-Pitch Softball Tournament takes place Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Villa Augustina fields. First pitch is set for 9 a.m.

Al Baines, president of Crispin’s House and tournament director, said Main Street Eye Care, the Goffstown Police Association, Poised Solutions Inc. and Granite St ate Plumbing and Heating LLC are sponsoring the tournament, hosted by Goffstown Junior Baseball.

“We are extremely grateful for their support and generosity,” said Baines. “They have been hosting this tournament for Crispin’s House from the beginning.

The entry of the Bedford Fire Department brings a new rival for the Goffstown Fire Department. Rounding out the rest of the field is the Goffstown Police Department, Goffstown Ace Hardware, Granite State Plumbing and Heating, Goffstown Junior Baseball, the Friends of Babe Ruth Softball, the Zach Cusson team, the Black Sox from New Boston, the Green Monsters from Manchester and the Chester Fathers and Sons team.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn and soft drinks are available at the concessions stand. Some 50/50 raffles and a drawing for an autographed 2008 Celtics championship jersey, donated to Crispin’s House 40by the Merchants Automotive Group of Hooksett, are also planned. Tickets for the jersey remain on sale until the time of the drawing.

All proceeds from the tournament help fund the nonprofit Crispin’s House and its programs, which support youths and families in the Goffstown area.

For details about sponsorship or to register a team, contact Al Baines at 759-4986 or albaines@comcast.net.

Volunteers needed for schoolyard construction

Bedford Editor — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:10:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

After months of planning and $70,000 of fundraising later, the Peter Woodbury Community School Yard will finally be built.

The work will begin Friday, July 31, when Bill Simione of Play Pro installs the first deck of the traditional playground equipment.

On Saturday, Aug. 1, volunteers will attach other playground equipment to the main piece installed the day before.

According to Cheryl Daley at Peter Woodbury, some people have already signed up to volunteer on Saturday, including four people from Lowe’s and a handful of high school students needing community service hours.

“This weekend we’re in good shape for numbers,” said Daley. “It’s really next weekend we’re looking for people.”

On Saturday, Aug. 8, volunteers are needed to build a shed and prepare 24 garden beds. People will also be needed for maintenance work in gardens on the other side of the school. Master gardener Anne Southwell and secondgrade teacher Connie Roberge will be in charge of these.

Most of the plantings in the gardens will be vegetables, but students will help with that when school starts.

“We’ll try to involve the kids, and get their input on what we should plant,” said Daley. “We’re trying to figure out if each class will have a garden, or what.”

Peter Woodbury received money for the school yard project through fundraising, grants, gifts, lemonade stands, cookbooks, T-shirts and more.

Daley said this project is a two-year vision, and $70,000 was raised in its first year. The goal is $150,000.

“We are very happy with where we’re at,” said Daley. “In the future, we still have things to do, like put bricks down,” said Daley.

“And in the fall, we’ve thought about doing something called a shrub-athon, where people will plant shrubs outside.”

Other elements that could potentially be added to the school yard project later on include weather stations and exploration backpacks for bird watching and plant identification.

Daley said the playground equipment will be ready for use by Monday, Aug. 3.

For more information, or if you would like to volunteer some time to help with the project, e-mail Daley at daleyc@sau25.net.

Goffstown High School staff, students raise money for cancer patient

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:15:00 GMT

By Danny Deconinck

The Goffstown community came together recently in support of 17-year-old Shayne Pouget. Pouget was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease in September 2008 and has struggled with his condition ever since.

Luna Salon in Goffstown sponsored an event to help the Pouget family, and held the “Three Shears for Shayne” fundraiser on June 6, Goffstown’s Old Home Day.

In the weeks leading up to the event, the Goffstown High School staff and student body built hype and collected donations. Two staff members, Monica Galamaga and Melanie Beauchemin, challenged the high school students to donate spare change or bills to help the cause.

“Mrs. Beauchemin and I jumped on board and said if we could each raise $1,000, we would shave our heads,” said Galamaga. “Much to our surThree prise, money came in and we both raised over $1,000 within a two-week period.”

As enthusiastic and devoted as Galamaga and Beauchemin were, they were not the only ones dedicated to the cause. GHS teachers Ryan Fitzpatrick, Samuel Perron, Timothy Westphal, Josh Lewis and Peter Galamaga all raised money for Shayne’s cause and had heads shaved as well.

“I wanted to support Shayne,” said Perron when asked what prompted his willingness to experience the buzz cut. “He’s almost my neighbor, and he’s from California, so they don’t have any family here to help out. I talked to him a lot last year and he’s a great kid. I wanted him to know people are thinking of him.”

“Shayne is a great kid and a fighter, and it’s important that he knows there are people outside his immediate family that care about him and who want to show their support any way they can,” said Lewis, “Everyone from friends, family, teachers (and their families) and students shaved their heads for Shayne … that’s the kind of support we offer to our own here at GHS.”

Jack Carbonneau, who coaches Pouget in soccer at the high school, provided one of the most awe-inspiring moments of the day when he waltzed into Luna Salon around 10:30 a.m. Carbonneau, as the story has been told, had not shaved his beard or cut his hair since his own high school prom, well over 20 years ago. Therefore when he strode up and down Main Street telling people he would be chopping his locks off if he received donations, the money came in rapidly. Carbonneau’s original goal was to raise $500, but he exceeded his own expectations and came up with $1,000 over the course of the day.

Bri Nelson was the only female student from Goffstown High School to shave her head, and she was joined by several of her male classmates.

Nelson donated her hair to “Locks of Love” to help disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical illnesses.

Mike Jutras, one of Shayne’s first friends from New Hampshire, personally raised $250 for the cause, and he too shaved off his characteristically long hair.

“I’d really like to thank everyone in my immediate family and all my friends and their family for helping out with the Shaving for Shayne event,” Pouget wrote in his online journal the day after the event. “I wish I could’ve been down there to thank everyone personally, but I feel everyone did a great job.”

Today, Shayne’s condition is showing signs of improvement.

On Tuesday, June 23, he was released from the hospital and returned home to be with his family. Though he still faces a long road to recovery, the Pougets are optimistic that he’s headed in the right direction.

Stand raises $1,250 for childhood cancer

Salem Editor — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:47:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Volunteers at the Shaw’s Supermarket of Windham have the sweet taste of success in their mouths after smashing their goal of raising $200 for childhood cancer research by June 14.

After bringing in more than $1,250 in donations over two days of running an Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation fundraiser outside of the 43 Indian Rock Road store, volunteer and organizer Deb Mercer said the success of the event had left her with butterflies in her stomach.

“My stomach is flip-flopping, I’m so excited,” said Mercer, who works as a grocery clerk at the supermarket on most days. “Who would have thought (the response would be this good)?”

Mercer took a lead role in organizing the weekend-long event after her district manager challenged the employees in area Shaws’ locations to raise as much money as possible for the childhood cancer research foundation. Associates at her supermarket volunteered their time, energy and efforts into making sure the fundraiser went off successfully, she said. While some of Mercer’s co-workers joined her in handing out lemonade to passing customers, others gave in whatever way they could, from donating goods for a raffle to putting together the lemonade stand from scratch.

Having spent a few hours the week leading up to the event with co-worker Gaylon Spinney building the lemonade stand, Rolando Mendez, grocery manager for the supermarket, said he wanted to make the stand look rustic and as much as possible like the original, operated by Alexandra “Alex” Scott in 2000 for the sole purpose of raising money for cancer research.

The then 4-year-old had been suffering from neuroblastoma since her first birthday, and before she passed away in 2004, Scott and volunteers across the country had raised more than $1 million for childhood cancer research.

Mercer said telling the story of Scott’s efforts to find a cure for cancer to customers had been critical in making the event a success.

“We’ve been greeting people and we’re informing them of the original lemonade stand,” Mercer said. “Their hearts melt (when they learn more) and in goes the whole $20 bill.”

A spokesman for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Gillian Kocher said more than anything else, word of mouth about events like the Shaw’s fundraiser helped the organization both by raising money and by encouraging other individuals to volunteer their time and efforts.

As for Mercer, though this may have been her first organized charity fundraiser, she is already looking forward to bringing out the lemonade stand again next year.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “I’m not one for words, but yeah, this is totally cool.”

Bedford teens fight cancer with carnival

Bedford Editor — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:21:00 GMT

BY PATRICK O’NEILL

Cancer kills millions each year, and for one group of Bedford students, fighting for a cure is their one goal this summer.

Sarah Kossak and Heidi Fraitzl lead a group of Bedford High students who will participate in the Greater Manchester Relay for Life at Livingston Park in June. On Saturday, April 18, they held a spring carnival on York Road to raise money for their team.

“We decided to put on a block party to get the community involved,” said Kossak. “This year is the first year we’re really doing an event because we wanted to get more involved in the process.”

The team first got together for last year’s Relay for Life, and everyone on it has known someone affected by cancer

“My grandfather died from lung cancer (in 2007),” said Kossak. “My grandmother had breast cancer. I did it for them in his memory and for his fight. She survived.”

“Each of us has a reason why we participated in this, and that has brought us together as a team,” said Fraitzl.

Some of the events at the carnival included face painting, raffles, and a performance from a local high school band, Kascade.

There were also games, including a Jell-O eating contest and musical chairs.

“We’re just trying to make as much as we can. Each team member has to raise at least $100 on their own, in addition to today,” said Kossak.

The ultimate goal for the team is to raise $2,000 by June.

The Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s premier event, allowing cancer survivors and their families to celebrate and remember those that have died and fight for survivors. This year’s Relay for Life will be at Livingston Park in Manchester on June 5.

The other students on the team are Justin Collier and his brother Ries, Molly Emerson, Aimee Lafond, Nolan McCall, Alexa Pervanas, Kayleigh Ford, Sam Ferranti, Nicole Jolicoeur, and Lauren Moquin. All are students at Bedford High.

Moquin, new to the team this year, was glad to join and help out.

“I heard last year it was really worth it,” she said. “Everyone has had someone affected by it.” Kossak and Fraitzl admit the team has had a lot of fun along the way.

“We spent three hours making Jell-O this week (for the contest),” said Kossak laughing. “The whole kitchen smelled like artificial strawberry.”

By the end of the day, the students raised $772.65.

The team is also honoring a fellow student, Joe Fong, who lost is battle against leukemia a few years ago.

“It was his birthday this past week,” said Nicole Jolioeur.

To help the team’s cause, donations can be sent to their Web site, main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=16349&pg=teamlist. The team’s name is “Teens for Hope."