Wiley Elementary Students Fight Cancer with Mini Relay for Life

Update:

The Wiley Elementary School Mini-Relay for Life raised $7,334.94.

A Mini-Relay for Life took place at Wiley Elementary School with 221 students participating in the race raising over $6,500 in the fight for cancer. There were 41 small groups of students with names identifying them like Lifesavers, Fiesty Fighters, Cancer Catchers and Hodgkins Haters

The teams walked on a made-up track behind the school to raise money to help fight cancer and to learn how to prevent cancer. As the teams added up laps they would stop to gather another bead for their necklaces. They also were able to visit four stations to learn how to prevent cancer in their own lives - Learning to live tobacco free, to be active, to eat healthy and to use sun protection.

The Wiley Explosion, a group of fourth, fifth and sixth grade singers sang the National Anthem to start the race off. The first lap was walked by three Wiley Cancer Survivors, second grader Ethan Gerhke, fifth grader Michelle Bahoura and Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Maureen Langenderfer. 

Mr. Morgan Cloyd, a Wiley teacher who headed the event, said they did the event because of a student's suggestion. "Ethan and his family did the Relay for Life last year and after Ethan's sister was doing laps in the parking lot. She suggested we do a Relay for Life here at our school so she sketched up a plan of how it would work and we took it to the principal who thought it was a great idea."

Cloyd was hoping to raise some money but thought if they raised $500 he would be thrilled. "The response has been wonderful especially in these economic times. The students went to their families, aunts, uncles, neighbors, and even a few doctors all to get donations. It's been overwhelming," said Cloyd.