Panther Valley raises more than $2K in mini-Relay for Life

They haven’t yet reached their teenage years, but students at Panther Valley Intermediate School know the impact of cancer.

The school held its annual mini-Relay for Life on Friday. Under sunny skies, each student walked for about an hour to support survivors andmemorialize those who have been lost.

“We came to honor the people who have cancer,” said fourth grader Alisa Williams.

Williams’ homeroom dressed in chef hats to “Cook up a cure for cancer.” Each homeroom created different costumes and banners during the week leading up to Friday’s walk.

“We did it for the people who died,” fourth-grader Dylan O’Brien said.

Kylah Pinckney stood out with a 3-D diamond floating above her head. She was dressed as a character from the video game “The Sims,” because her class chose the theme “Cancer is not a game.”

“People pass away from cancer every day, and it’s a really important thing,” she said.

The themes helped them get excited about raising money to help those battling cancer. The students held penny wars during the last two weeks. In all, they raised more than $2,400 that will be presented to the American Cancer Society by the Panther Valley School District team during next month’s Carbon-Tamaqua Relay for Life.

“It’s been going on for many years here. We have fun,” Principal Lisa Mace said. “And the weather totally cooperated today.”

Students were recognized for raising the most.

With the costumes, upbeat music and great weather, it was a fun event for students. But there were also solemn moments. Teachers slowed down the music and read a list of names — memorials as well as survivors, which were submitted by the students themselves.

“It’s quieter and calmer. We do a reflective lap or two to remember our loved ones,” Mace said.

Many of the students had someone on their mind. Rodney Stewart said he was proudly marching in honor of an aunt who is battling cancer and remembering a grandmother who died from it.

Joseph Gindhart was thinking of his late grandmother, Gertrude Gillis. He said it felt good to help out.

“We walked around with a sign that said ‘wave goodbye to cancer,’” he said.

The event was started by school nurse Kathy Inama, who retired this year after more than 30 years working in the school district. She said she hopes the tradition will continue into the future.

Since the mini relay started about a decade ago, the students have raised thousands for ACS.

“It’s a great bonding experience for them,” Inama said.