Students at Clovis North High School recently dedicated their lunch break to raising funds for childhood cancer research.
The students were taking part in the annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation Conquer Childhood Cancer fundraiser. Students who took part in the event on Thursday, March 14 at Clovis North donated money or shaved their hair to help support kids with cancer.
Clovis North senior Brianna Pena was one of the organizers of the event. Pena said Clovis North is looking to pass the amount it raised last year.
“Our goal is $14,000,” Pena said. “Last year we reached $10,000, so we really want to beat that goal and it’s for an awesome cause.”
Pena said she is encouraged by the number of students who took part in the event.
“We have a really good turnout this year,” Pena said. “There are 34 people shaving. That includes girls cutting off eight inches of their hair. It has been a really cool experience to see all these people come together for an awesome cause.”
With the event attracting many students, some were able to share their stories about how they have been affected by cancer.
“We have had a lot of people who cut their hair who told us about how they have family members who have unfortunately passed from cancer,” Pena said.
Pena also had a chance to share her story with other students.
“My family members have been affected by cancer, so it’s important that people come together,” Pena said. “It’s such a positive environment. Everybody is everybody’s company. It’s so cool to see Clovis North being such a great family and join the cause.”
Although she is a senior, Pena said she looks forward to seeing the event grow even more in the coming years.
“Each and every year we are increasing our goal and meeting our goals, so this definitely has been a great turnout,” Pena said.
Pena added that it takes a lot of work to organize the event, but it’s all worth it in the end.
“We have been preparing for this for the past four months,” Pena said. “It really does take an entire family to bring it all together. All the staff has been very helpful, students have donated, teachers have contributed.”