Students at Bryan County Middle School celebrated the success of their Shamrock fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) by giving even more.
According to Mrs. Ferreira, BCMS Student Council Faculty Advisory, the students sold Shamrocks as part of a nation wide fundraiser for the MDA. Their goal was to raise $600.
When reading teacher Holly Myers heard of their fundraising efforts, she told students that if they meet their goal she would cut her long locks of hair and donate them to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to be made into a wig for cancer patients.
"Once word was out about Mrs. Myers challenge to the students, the Shamrocks started to sell like crazy," said Mrs. Ferreira. "Then other students and staff members joined Mrs. Myers and said they too would cut their hair to be made into wigs."
In no time, the student body reached their goal of raising $600. Seventh grader Aaron Smith bought five Gold Shamrocks for a total of $25, as the top donor of the school.
Last Friday, April 4 with a crowd of hundreds of cheering students looking on a total of eight students and staff cut eight inches or more off of their hair during an assembly. The student participants were 9th grader Kayla Koskela of Ellabell; 8th graders Taylor Lee of Blitchton, Taylor Mason of Blitchton and Billi Miles of Pembroke; 7th graders Crystal Bernard of Ellabell and Patrick O’Connell of Ellabell, and 6th grader Katnan Beckwoth of Pembroke. Special Education Para-pro Aimy Myers also cut her hair at the assembly. Holly Myers and her daughter Kailynn of Stilson couldn’t attend the assembly but also cut their hair for the cause.
"We are so proud of these kids for their generosity and courage," said Ferreira. "It takes six ponytails to make one wig, so we know these students have already changed one person’s life."
"I can grow my hair back and others can’t. So why not help others?" said Lee, who cut over eight inches off her hair off as her mother Starr Lee tearfully watched.
Ferreira said they chose to donate the hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths since they only require eight inches in length to be donated, while other organizations prefer ten inches.