Information: cameronshockey31@yahoo.com
Friday nights in a Woodstock neighborhood are normally known as the Battle of Towne Lake. But the rival schools in one community, Etowah and Woodstock High School met not as rivals but as a unified community to fight a different battle. The schools came together for Bald, Bold and Beautiful: Together Love Prevails, a fundraiser to help local families that are battling cancer.
The fundraiser was started by Etowah High School senior Meredith Cameron Shockey, who was inspired by participating in a Relay for Life team.
“That experience really showed me exactly how many people in my community are affected by cancer, and I saw this fundraiser as my opportunity to help,” said Shockey. “So many families in the Towne Lake community are affected by cancer, but they should never have to go through it alone. This was my way of being there for these families.”
The event included a head-shaving contest that took place during halftime of the boys’ basketball game in which members of the administration and faculty from both schools volunteered to have their heads shaved. The volunteer from each school that had the most donations had their head shaved. The winner from each school included an English teacher from Etowah, Jessica Sprecher, and the head football coach from Woodstock, Brent Budde.
“I decided to participate in this fundraiser because I lost my own daughter to brain cancer in 2008,” said Sprecher. “Hair will grow back, so if I could make a difference for another family going through what I’ve been through and help to establish a fund to help more families in the future, it was worth every lock.”
With the collection of funds, T-shirt sales, sponsorships and generous donations, Shockey raised over $8,000. The money will help with medical expenses.
People can still give to charity by continuing to donate for the teacher head-shaving contest or by purchasing the T-shirt designed for the fundraiser. In addition, donations can be made online through the Etowah Foundation.
Shockey will be graduating high school soon, but her ultimate goal is for this fundraiser to become a legacy.
“I hope every year there is a similar event that will continue to raise money for this cause and will continue to the fight against cancer,” she said.
In other news: Country Financial awarded $325,000 to 21 organizations, seven from Atlanta, that offer financial education programs and resources to single parent families through its 2015-2016 Count on Country Financial grant program. The following Atlanta nonprofits were beneficiaries of the donation: Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, The Bridge Academy, ClearPoint Financial Solutions, HomeStretch Transitional Housing Program, Urban League of Greater Atlanta, Warrick Dunn Charities and 100 Black Men of Atlanta.
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