Hernando Today
Bake Sale To Aid Leukemia Patient
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Published: May 16, 2008
BROOKSVILLE - It all started with a book.
A book called "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes," by Eleanor Coerr, which tells the true story of a 12-year-old Japanese girl's struggle with leukemia, which she developed after the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan toward the end of World War II.
The story touched two classes of eighth-graders at Fox Chapel Middle School in Spring Hill so much that when they learned of a local boy struggling with leukemia — Brooksville Elementary School student Cole VanHoy, 8 — they decided to do something to help his family pay Cole's medical bills.
Last week, the students baked muffins, cookies and cakes and organized a schoolwide bake sale, held during lunchtime.
They plastered the school with handmade fliers and advertised the sale on the morning announcements, and sold each item for 25 to 50 cents, or "prices kids could afford," they said.
They also held a "jeans day" for teachers, in which teachers could pay $1 to wear jeans for a day, which are normally prohibited.
"We decided we wanted to help the little boy, so we brainstormed a bunch of different ways and decided on (those) two things," said Ruben Santana, 14.
The students have now raised more than $400 for Cole's parents, Brooksville residents Randy and Dara VanHoy, who have had medical bills piling up since their son's diagnosis of lymphoblastic leukemia and a rare disease known as "Philadelphia cancer" last November.
Since then, Cole has endured dozens of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and received a bone marrow transplant in April.
"It felt really good to help someone's family (with leukemia), especially because we know they need the money," said Melvin Deleon, 16.
While Cole's family could not be reached for comment at press time, the students said they hope to surprise them with the money on Wednesday.
"I'm so proud of them," said one of their teachers, Diane Welsh. "It was really very successful, especially when you think that (most was based on) two days of selling items for 25 and 50 cents."
Principal Ray Pinder said this is not the first time the school's students have raised money for a good cause. Last year, the school raised $800 for John Kelly, known as "the walker," who was mugged while walking home just east of Weeki Wachee Springs in 2007.
However, this fundraiser was unique because it was completely organized by students, he said.
"All of the ideas and (leadership) for this came from the students," Pinder said. "The amount of money was impressive, but what was invaluable was students learning that, as a community, we need to come together to support each other."
While there are only four weeks left in school, the students said they hope to raise additional money for Cole's family through a car wash or another bake sale.
A trust fund for Cole's family has also been established at Center State Bank.
Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.
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