Maine West raises over $15K for brain tumor association ? Des ...

Maine West High School raised over $15,000 in the last two weeks to benefit the American Brain Tumor Association?? a feat that follows the death of a student due to brain cancer and another student?s recent diagnosis with the illness.

?As many hurdles as we?ve had this year?it?s an amazing number,? said Assistant Principal Dave Berendt. ?To do that in a couple of weeks is pretty special.?

The Des Plaines high school announced the figure at last week?s student assembly, which featured B96 radio personalities Showbiz Shelly and J as the emcees, performances by various school groups and highlighted spring athletes.

From pie-throwing contests and tricycle races to a faculty dance-off, students and staff raised money in creative ways to benefit the organization, which provides funding for brain cancer research. The song ?Friday? by Rebecca Black was blasted in the student cafeteria until students and staff donated a certain amount of money to stop it from playing and the Ping Pong Club brought in a world champion who paddled off against novices for a few dollars.

During the Miracle Minute, which has become a tradition during fundraising efforts, students and staff donated about $2,600 in 60 seconds after watching a short video about the?American Brain Tumor Association and how brain tumors have affected the school.

Last October, senior Stephanie Valusescu passed away from the illness and shortly after, junior Amber Moosvi was diagnosed with Stage Four glioblastoma muitiforme?? a tumor in the brain that infiltrates surrounding brain tissue.

The school had originally decided to concentrate its two-week fundraising campaign on the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, but students and staff overwhelmingly agreed to also raise money for brain cancer after the two incidents. Events and activities to benefit ASPCA will likely be held in late April or early May, Berendt said.

?These circumstances were so unusual,? he said. ?It was really neat that our students wanted to do something.?

Overall, the school has raised more than $41,000 following Valusescu?s passing, another student?s death and Moosvi?s diagnosis. The proceeds went to Valusescu?s family, the Homestead Program and American Brain Tumor Association.

Following the student assembly, the school hosted a dance, which also benefited the brain cancer organization. Over 1,000 students attended the event, Berendt said.

Source: http://triblocal.com/des-plaines/2012/03/20/maine-west-raises-over-15k-for-brain-tumor-association/

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