Community Corner

Clark Lane Middle School Raises More Than $2,500 For L+M Cancer Patients

The fundraiser was the brainchild of Clark Lane School 8th Grader Olivia Pitasi but it became a schoolwide effort to help support women being treated at the new Waterford Cancer Center.

So here's some good news for a change. Yesterday, Clark Lane Middle School students presented a check for more than $2,500 to L&M Social Worker Cathy McCarthy to provide financial assistance to women being treated at the new Lawrence + Memorial Center Center in Waterford. 

Clark Lane Middle School student Olivia Pitasi launched the schoolwide fundraising campaign in October with the express purpose of helping to support women undergoing treatment at the new Cancer Center. Pitasi's mom had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and Olivia wanted to do something to help.

What started out as a personal mission soon became a school-wide cause that was enthusiastically embraced by Clark Lane faculty and families. With the encouragement of her teacher, Beth Sheridan, and with the support of school Principal James Sachs, Pitasi came up with a variety of ways to raise money for the cause. With the help of her friends, this Waterford 8th grader sold $2 "Clark Lane Cares" bracelets during lunch, organized a classroom penny drive and a "dress up" day. 

At the time, Olivia told Patch that her goal was to raise more than $800. "If every kid and staff member brought in $1, we'd have over $800 and every little bit will add up," she said.  

With students and their families, and Clark Lane faculty and staff all chipping in, she exceeded that goal by almost $2,000. And she did it one penny and one bracelet at a time.  


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