Students raise $2,631 for Wings

By STEVE KADEL Western News Reporter

Troy students concluded a spirited fund-raising effort this week for a cancer support organization - collecting more money than school staff members imagined they could.

Students from grades seven through 12 turned over a check for $2,631.14 to Troy Wings co-chairwoman Judy Orr during a ceremony at the school Tuesday.

Orr, a cancer survivor, was moved by the gift.

"I thank each and every one of you for your hard work," she told the students assembled in the auditorium. "Our motto is 'Wings is people helping people' and that's what you've done."

She said Wings helps pay for gasoline and lodging for cancer victims who must drive outside Lincoln County for chemo therapy or radiation. Those costs aren't covered by insurance.

Orr has been cancer-free for 10 years, so didn't have the benefit of Wings, which began in Lincoln County eight years ago. The Troy chapter is five years old.

"It's just amazing what the kids did," Orr said. "I'm a big bawl-baby, so I hope I don't cry today."

School counselor Kelly Palmer said he had hoped the project would raise $500 or $600, at most. The result was way beyond that.

"You guys have surprised, made proud, and completely blown away everybody's expectations," he said during the assembly.

Then came the fun part, at least for students. Palmer had promised that members of the class that raised the most money could shave his head.

That turned out to be the eight-graders, although seventh-graders and juniors also raised more than $600 apiece.

Before Palmer donned a black gown to be shorn, his wife Jeanie had a piece of advice. "Guard your eyebrows," she said.

Then their son, eighth-grader Aaron, took the first locks of his dad's hair. Others continued the process until Jeanie Palmer put the final touches on her husband's head.

"It looks better, but then I'm biased," said district superintendent Brady Selle, who is spare of hair himself.

Principal Rodney Smith cracked, "It looks like a bowling ball with a beard."

Fund-raising began March 2 and ended March 15. A spirit of competition arose between the classes with each trying more inventive fund-raising tactics as the event continued.

"There was some game-playing," Palmer said. "It was cute."

Totals for each class were included every morning during announcements. But the eighth-graders kept quiet about a big event they held near the end of the two-week period to prevent others from knowing their true total.

Staff members competed as a group, but their donations counted only 10 cents on the dollar to level the playing field.

One teacher solved a classroom management problem and contributed $25 to the fund-raiser by challenging a troublesome student to be quiet all day. There was a basketball tournament and a softball tournament, along with concessions. A traditional bake sale also was held.

"It ended up springing off into all these other ideas," Palmer said. "It took on a life of its own."

He said even some students from very low-income families made regular contributions.

"We had kids empty their pockets every day," he said.

Before sitting down for his haircut, Palmer read a letter his mother wrote to the students. Carol Palmer has cancer, and passed along her heartfelt thanks for the children's effort.

She ended the letter with a note of humor, writing, "Please shave his head carefully. He's very dear to me."