A "Novel" idea for the Yaak Wings Walk
Yaak Elementary School students raised $2,025 to support area residents and families battling cancer. This year they raised money by reading and receiving pledges from the community. From left, back row, area teacher Sabré Burson-Alderete, seventh grade student Ely Oehlke (273 pages), eighth grade student Jedidiah Jewett (173 pages) and teacher's aid Kimm Bowcutt. From left, front, are sixth grade student David Bartlett (681 pages), third grade student Ryker Jewett (89 pages) and fifth grade student John Charland (350 pages). Absent is second grade student Roman Bridges (36 pages).
This year’s 10th anniversary Yaak Wings Walk was another success, topping last year's record breaking total, with the current tally standing at $22,119.
Walk organizers along with husband and wife team, Robert Zaccheo and Roberta Deneau, stated, "Our friends, family and supporters never cease to amaze us."
The last big donation of $2,025 coming from the Yaak Elementary School, in the form of a "Big Check," evolved in a very unique way.
Each year Yaak School teacher Sabré Burson-Alderete anticipates the annual event by taking her students on short walks, preparing them for the big day. But this year, after taking a fall and fracturing her leg, Burson-Alderete was forced to get creative, as walking was out of the question.
So she challenged her students to "read" for pledges and the Yaak Community to pledge for "pages" as opposed to miles.
This novel idea resulted in a combined 1,599 pages read in one month by only seven students!
On Monday, Dec. 11, Deneau and Zaccheo were presented with the big check, and in return, as in previous years, each child was given a Certificate of Appreciation for their efforts.
The Yaak Wings Walk continues to receive donations for Wings Regional Cancer Support and as the year comes to a close, as does the running tally.
The new year will begin at $0 on Jan. 1, 2024.