CHS students’ hard work pays off for breast cancer walk
By Candace Paris
Members of the CHS volleyball program pose in front of the Hatch Shell during this year’s walk.
Canton High School students have come together as a committed fundraising team once again for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. About 200 students took part in the annual walk in Boston on Sunday, September 30. With the final fundraising tally coming in at the end of this month, the group is on pace to raise about $15,000 for this year alone. The total amount raised in all Canton students’ years of participation as a school since 2003 already exceeds $100,000.
Ed Amico, who coordinates student participation each year, said, “There was a lot of excitement at hitting the $100,000 mark. They really blew by that goal.”
This is a significant increase from the first year, when about 18 students raised a few hundred dollars. Amico said this marks the second year that the students received an award at the event for being one of the top three fundraising high school teams.
“I am so incredibly honored and privileged to work with such phenomenal young adults whose commitment to helping others and worthy causes is so awesome,” he said.
He named six students who showed special leadership ability: Nicole Brown, Shawn Burns, Emma Cunningham, Kayla Fitzgerald, Ryan Gustafson, and Chloe Pennacchio.
Amico, who walks with the students, is a counselor in the Guidance Department and the director of the career center and community service learning. He thinks support for the walk among the students is high for several reasons.
“For a lot of them, it’s personal,” he said. They have family members, friends, or even teachers who have been touched by breast cancer. Many of them are participating along with fellow sports team or club members, which also provides motivation. The volleyball team is one such group; it has been participating for more than a decade and brought 49 players this year. Amico also cited the strong community service culture of the school.
CHS students accept a fundraising award.
Eighty hours of service is one of the requirements at Canton for participation in the graduation ceremony, with 20 hours expected each year. Amico said that while fulfilling this requirement is a factor for some of the students who participate in the walk, a lot of them have already completed their obligation.
“Service and making a difference in other peoples’ lives is such a huge part of the culture at CHS,” he said, “and the students are incredible examples of how their efforts can have such a positive effect on all those around them.”
Amico also praised the students’ organizational capabilities. He said that his role coordinating the school’s participation has been less and less challenging as the years go by because the students themselves have taken on so much work. Each participating team or group has one or two team leaders. Rather than trying to reach out directly to individual participants, Amico typically works with the team leaders, informing them of tasks or suggesting fundraising ideas. Team leaders then take the information back to members of their groups. Members of the drama group were especially active this year. Other athletic teams that participated were soccer, field hockey, cross country, and cheerleading.
Amico met the students at the school early on the morning of the walk. He said he was happy that not only was everyone on time to board the five buses, but “to see 200 students all decked out in pink at 7:30 a.m. on a Sunday is so inspiring.” Amico said that pink dominated every possible clothing item, with both girls and boys sporting pink shirts, socks, bandanas, and hats.
Once in Boston, the event began with award presentations at the Hatch Shell. Walkers proceeded down the Esplanade, following a big, six-mile circle. Along the way, some of the Canton students sang. “Every year many walkers and parents stop me on the walk to comment how wonderful, dedicated and fun the CHS groups are,” Amico said.
Amico expressed gratitude for Canton’s support of its students. “The students and I owe a huge thank you to the Canton community for continuing to support the students’ efforts every year.”
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To make a donation to Canton High School’s Making Strides fundraising effort, go to Making Strides of Boston (https://bit.ly/2E6wgyH) and do a team search for Canton High School. Donations will be accepted until October 31.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=42508
Posted by Candace Paris
on Oct 12 2018. Filed under News, Schools, Uncategorized.
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