Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
School rallies to support 2-year-old battling cancer
H-M-S Elementary student Hayden Vander Berg holds up her ponytails and receives a kiss from her grandma, Lisa Huff, during the school's cancer awareness event last Friday. Vander Berg donated her hair to Locks of Love.
2-year-old Margarett Travaille and her father, Chad.
The annual cancer awareness event at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary School has many facets, all of which are focused on one goal: helping those who are fighting the disease.
During the week of Oct. 21, elementary students were encouraged to wear clothing in various colors that represent different types of cancer. Cancer ribbons, posters and banners were displayed throughout the school to raise awareness about the disease.
One of the major events of the week is the penny drive. Students were invited to bring coins, dollar bills and checks to school and place them in a fish tank.
"You never disappoint me with the fish tank," PE teacher Janet Prins told elementary students during the cancer awareness assembly on Friday.
The $2,244 raised through the drive is being given to the family of Margarett Travaille. The 2-1/2 year old girl is battling hepatoblastoma liver cancer. The very rare condition is in Stage 4 and is metastatic since it has spread to her lungs.
Margarett is a cousin of H-M-S Elementary teacher Allie Schimmer. Prins told Margarett's parents, Chad and Megan, and other family members that because Allie was part of the H-M-S family, they were also a part of the district family.
Another sign of H-M-S's support for the family was a poster that read, "God is the best doctor, prayer is the best medicine." Elementary staff members then joined in a circle around the family as a sign of the "prayer warriors" who were praying for them during this difficult time.
To also honor Margarett, H-M-S student Hayden Vander Berg had her hair cut so it could be donated to the Locks of Love organization. Lisa Huff had the privilege of giving her granddaughter her first haircut. Locks of Love uses donations of hair to make wigs for people with cancer.
Megan Travaille and Margarett presented Hayden with a T-shirt in appreciation of her support.
The event concluded with a balloon release outside the school. The Travaille family released balloons in honor of Margarett. Balloons were also released in honor of current elementary staff members who are cancer survivors and in memory of those who lost the fight to cancer. Students also released colored balloons representing various forms of the disease.
