Clark Lane Middle School Unites To Support Breast Cancer Patients

Earlier this year, Clark Lane Middle School student Olivia Pitasi's family received news that everyone dreads. In June, Olivia's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.

In this situation, many people would feel helpless but Olivia, 13, decided to channel her energy into action. She wanted to do something to help, not only her mom, but all women who are dealing with breast cancer. Her mission has now become a schoolwide campaign. 

Encouraged by her teacher, Beth Sheridan, Olivia came up with a plan to raise money in multiple ways: selling bracelets during school lunch, holding a penny drive, and organizing a Fancy Thursday yesterday, which encouraged students to donate a dollar to get all dressed up for school. 

"Olivia's really spearheaded everything. This is her baby," said Sheridan. "Olivia's been on announcements to pitch the whole thing. It's been really impressive. It's really nice to see people come together."

Olivia has been meeting with School Principal James Sachs on a regular basis to work out the logistics and set up meetings with L+M Cancer Center, which will be receiving the donation. Olivia's father, Tom, who has been active in fundraising for breast cancer for the past four years, bought 600 "Clark Lane Cares" bracelets so it wouldn't cost the school anything to start the campaign. 

The campaign began on October 17. The penny drive will run through October 31 and the bracelet sales will continue until November 1. Olivia has set up shop in the cafeteria to sell the bracelets during lunchtime and she'll be selling them at the school dance next Friday too. Her classmates have volunteered to help her do that and, though she's selling the bracelets for $2, many people are donating more. 
 
"There's been a lot of donations. Everyone's being very generous," said Olivia. "I don't even know some of these kids." 

The penny drive is also proving to be quite successful. "We have 30 home rooms participating and so far it looks like we've raised a good amount," said Olivia. Indeed, Sheridan said she's already made one deposit for $375 to empty jars that were filled with all kinds of change. 
 
"I don't want to set myself up but I would love to raise over $800," said Olivia. "If every kid and staff member brought in $1, we'd have over $800 and every little bit will add up." 

As her mom is going to be having chemotherapy at the new Lawrence + Memorial Cancer Center in Waterford, Olivia said she wanted to raise money specifically to support women who were being treated at the center. 
She said she knows of at least two other classmates whose mothers are also dealing with breast cancer. 

Olivia said that, if all goes well, the prognosis for her mom is good. "In a year, she will be cancer free," said Olivia. 

But Olivia is hoping her campaign will be ongoing. She's currently working on plans to recruit the school garden club to grow flowers in the school's garden that would go to patients at the Cancer Center. She's also hoping to encourage students to donate the pots they make in art class so the flowers can be delivered in vases. 

Olivia says she feels better going to sleep at night knowing she's doing something to help. The money raised, she said, will help women who need transportation to the Cancer Center and cover other expenses related to their treatment, "because some are not as fortunate as others," she said.