Relay for Life:140 team members and counting for the "Sauquoit Savers"
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: June 12, 2012
She's a literature teacher by day, and Relay for Life Captain by night.
And it's the tenth year Sauquoit Valley Middle School teacher, Tammy Purrington has rounded up students from 5th to 8th grade to join in on the fight against cancer.
"The first team was very small and then gradually we go bigger and bigger...the fifth graders got on board this year, but every year it's been at least 100-110 kids and up," said Purrington.
For some of the returning team members like 7th graders Alexa Stachowika and Meghan Appel, being a part of the "Sauquoit Savers" is something that hits pretty close to home.
"I had an uncle who passed away when I was really young, and I don't think it was fair that cancer had to take his life away, and so many other people's lives away," said Stachowika.
"A lot of my family has had cancer, and my Nana, I was really close to her and in about third grade she was diagnosed with lung cancer," said Appel.
The actual event isn't until June 9th, but Ms. Purrington and the students have been well at work.
In fact, her kids had had "Relay" on the mind since March.
"They're working on decorating our school, our campsite, putting together games, fundraisers that we'll do at the campsite. It's a huge job just to get everybody organized and ready," said Purrington
It might be a bit of "organized chaos" with over 100 students at the actual event, but it's a night Tammy Purrington and the students remember year after year.
And it's the tenth year Sauquoit Valley Middle School teacher, Tammy Purrington has rounded up students from 5th to 8th grade to join in on the fight against cancer.
"The first team was very small and then gradually we go bigger and bigger...the fifth graders got on board this year, but every year it's been at least 100-110 kids and up," said Purrington.
For some of the returning team members like 7th graders Alexa Stachowika and Meghan Appel, being a part of the "Sauquoit Savers" is something that hits pretty close to home.
"I had an uncle who passed away when I was really young, and I don't think it was fair that cancer had to take his life away, and so many other people's lives away," said Stachowika.
"A lot of my family has had cancer, and my Nana, I was really close to her and in about third grade she was diagnosed with lung cancer," said Appel.
The actual event isn't until June 9th, but Ms. Purrington and the students have been well at work.
In fact, her kids had had "Relay" on the mind since March.
"They're working on decorating our school, our campsite, putting together games, fundraisers that we'll do at the campsite. It's a huge job just to get everybody organized and ready," said Purrington
It might be a bit of "organized chaos" with over 100 students at the actual event, but it's a night Tammy Purrington and the students remember year after year.
