March 28, 2024

‘Face Off Against Cancer’

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Creston Community High School Communication and Service Technology (CAST) and Future Business Leaders of America students are partnering with Creston O-M Wrestling for a T-shirt fundraiser in support of the Greater Regional Health Cancer Center.

The groups have collaborated for the past three years to raise funds for veteran honor flights in the area, but want to help other community groups, as well.

“We were told that right now, from previous fundraisers and additional ones they had done, the honor flights fund was still in pretty good shape,” said Shannon Smith, Creston Community High School FBLA adviser. “We still care very deeply for veterans and the honor flight program and we hope to be able to help them again in the future.”

This year the groups decided to raise money for the cancer center instead. Their chosen slogan: “Face Off Against Cancer.”

“This year we were working with the wrestling team and they have had several family members who have battled cancer in some form,” said Smith. “In our district we also recently lost our Superintendent, Mr. McDermott. I believe this was on a lot of students’ minds when choosing to do the fundraiser for the Cancer Center.”

The design of the shirt is mostly purple because lavender is the color that represents all types of cancer.

“The CAST class had students submit the designs for the T-shirt,” said Smith. “Then these were narrowed down to three. FBLA members and CAST students looked at pictures of the designs and voted for their favorites. The winning design was made by Camden Peterson and Colby Burg.”

Smith said the goal is to raise $11,000 from various fundraising events. The group met with the marketing department of GRH to learn about what is done in the facility and what the money would go for.

“We learned that this facility is very important to families in the area receiving treatment because the next nearest facilities are Omaha or Des Moines,” said Smith.

The groups intend to do other events following the T-shirt fundraiser.

“In conjunction with this event, we will also be doing a coin war in the district, including St. Malachy and Mayflower, the week after the meet in classrooms that would like to participate,” said Smith. “We are trying to have multiple ways for people to be involved because most people care about someone who has faced cancer.”

The T-shirts are being sold for the Jan. 28 dual meet with Harlan and Lewis Central and all orders are due by noon Wednesday, with the T-shirts being delivered the following week. A table will be set up for people to place orders at the home meet on Dec. 17.