Alisabeth Fleming, left, the organizer of the event, is joined by the owner of Medieval Golf, Diann Walters.
By LESLEY GRAHAM
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the students at Ocean City’s Primary and Intermediate schools are thinking pink.
The Primary School students participated in a fundraiser by collecting coins for five days. The winning grade would receive extra recess time on Friday, which was also “Pink Day” for the students and staff.
Through their hard work, the students collected over $500 to donate to a local organization. The first-graders came out victorious.
But Alisabeth Fleming, a mom and member of the PTA, wanted to do more. So she gathered some of her fellow volunteers and reached out to a few local businesses to set up a fun day of activities for students on Columbus Day, since there was no school on the holiday.
Medieval Fantasy Golf, Angelo’s I Family Restaurant and Bowfish Kids generously donated their facilities, food and services to provide a fun-filled day off for the kids in the community.
Emery Park and Stella Fleming pose inside the pink-hued lemonade stand.
The money raised through donations will go directly to the Cape May Regional Medical Center Radiation Oncology “Cancer Survivorship Program.”
Stephanie Shaw was on hand from Suzy Q’s Salon in Upper Township to add a touch of pink to the kids’ hair to outwardly show their support.
“It’s so important to bring continued awareness. We want to give back to our community where so many loved ones and families we see in the salon are affected by cancers,” Shaw said.
Kai Linthicum, 10, Keira Linthicum, 7, and Stevie Wright, 10, enjoy some mini golf for a good cause.
Tiffany Park, a mom of three whose eldest daughter, Emery, is in kindergarten, came to the golf event Monday for personal reasons.
Her sister, Mikenzie Helphenstine, is a breast cancer fighter and third grade teacher at the Primary School.
“We all know someone fighting. If we can come out and come together to support donations to a local charity, we feel that we are doing our small part in the fight against breast cancer,” Park said.
Fleming, who spearheaded the day of fun, was thrilled by the turnout, which had over 100 participants showing their support.
“Specifically for me, it’s important to teach my daughters (Makenna, 12, and Stella, 6) to look outside themselves and realize life is much bigger than they are,” Fleming said. “We always talk about how it takes a village – a village to raise kids, to support one another, to build community. What better way to do that than by raising awareness for breast cancer fighters, survivors and their families?”
Seventh-grader Madelyn Adamson gives a glitter tattoo to kindergartener Zoe Black, 5.
Alisabeth Fleming, left, the organizer of the event, is joined by the owner of Medieval Fantasy Golf, Diann Walters.
