Parkside Students Hosting Major Fundraiser to Benefit Relay For Life

“Lots In One” Takes the Fight Against Cancer to the Street 
in Upcoming Memorial Day Parade

Lots In One, a Westlake Relay for Life team comprised of 5th and 6th graders from Parkside Intermediate School is working hard to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The group of 11 and 12 year-olds will walk in Westlake’s Memorial Day Parade on May 27, hold a major fundraiser on June 1, and participate in Westlake’s Relay For Life event on July 13 at the Westlake Recreation Center.

The Lots in One kids have set a big goal for themselves, a whopping $5,000. They’re hoping that funds from the sale, participation at the Relay event in July, and direct donations to their team’s Relay web page will help them meet this challenge. In addition, the group creates and sells hand-made items, such as friendship bracelets and duct tape crafts to fellow students and others in the community.

CLEANING OUT YOUR BASEMENT CAN HELP SAVE LIVES

The team’s first major fundraising event, a “garage” sale, will be held from 9am to 5pm, June 1 at the Fraternal Order of Police Hall (FOP Lodge 25), Lots In One, a Westlake Relay For Life team comprised of 5th and 6th grade students, is hosting a garage sale to benefit RFL June 1, 9am - 5pm, at the FOP Lodge 25 Hall, 26145 Center Ridge Road. in Westlake.

The Lots In One kids are asking the Westlake community to donate “stuff” to sell, particularly housewares and other big-ticket items. The group, parent advisors, and volunteers from Westlake High School, will be on site at the FOP Hall on Friday, May 31st, 11am - 7pm, to receive these donations and set up the sale. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the American Cancer Society. Items not sold will be donated to charity at the conclusion of the sale.

“Being able to do such a big thing and having the opportunity to do it with my friends is an amazing experience,” says 6th Grade Team Captain Talya Jeter.

TAKING IT TO THE STREET

The group has decided to get the word out about the sale, literally taking their message to the street, by walking in the upcoming Memorial Day parade on May 27th. Westlake’s Relay For Life organizers have offered their support and are lending the student team an official Relay banner to carry, trademark Relay balloons, and lollipops to hand out during the parade.

“We’re so proud of these kids,” says team parent advisor Heather Drago. “They organized this group themselves, came up with this fundraising project themselves, and are really dedicated to this cause. This is such a great learning experience for them. I’m so impressed with their conviction and their willingness to give up their free time to help others.”

 “These young people have decided to walk and support the cause so that others younger than them might not face what they've seen.  All of Westlake should be proud of the way these kids have taken up the baton to work for the cure,” says Rick Grane, Kiwanis Memorial Day Parade organizer and Relay For Life co-chair.

ABOUT LOTS IN ONE

The group, originally formed in 2012, began as an experiment in entrepreneurship. Talya and her friends began crafting string bracelets and duct tape accessories that quickly became hot commodities at Parkside. When the school’s office staff got wind of the budding business, they advised the students that while items could not be sold for profit on school property, it would be appropriate to sell things for donations to a worthy cause. Within the group, several had lost relatives to cancer or had a loved one fighting cancer at that moment, and so they decided to donate their proceeds to Relay for Life. Their first effort, selling hand-crafted bracelets at the Westlake Recreation Center, resulted in raising $50. They also participated in last summer’s Relay For Life overnight event.

The team’s name, Lots in One, comes from the fact that they do lots of things together to raise money and that the group is made up of lots of kids all working towards one goal: raising money to help fight and cure cancer.
Team member Sarah Drago says, “Helping people get more birthdays is important to me. I lost two family members because of cancer and I don’t want anyone else to go through that.”

The kids invite other Westlake students to join Lots In One. While their group currently consists almost entirely of 5th and 6th graders, students of all ages are welcome. Information about the group’s activities and how to join can be found on their website: www.lotsinone.org.

ABOUT RELAY FOR LIFE

Relay For Life is a local, annual fundraising event, held in communities across the country benefitting the American Cancer Society. The event consists of an organized, overnight community fundraising walk and campout. Teams of community volunteers take turns walking around the track, host activities, and provide entertainment to event participants over a 24-hour period. 

Several ceremonies honor those who have succumbed to, survived, or are fighting cancer. During the “Survivors Lap”, cancer survivors take the event’s first lap around the track, celebrating their victory over cancer, cheered on by event participants who line the track. After dark, a  “Luminaria Ceremony” is held, commemorating those who’ve fought cancer and those who are still engaged in the struggle. Candles are lit inside of personalized bags and are placed around the Relay track. Finally, the “Fight Back” ceremony is a chance for all participants to recommit themselves toward the fight against cancer.

The Relay began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington, raising $27,000 to help the American Cancer Society eradicate the nation’s number one leading health concern, cancer. The next year 340 supporters joined the overnight event. Since its inception, Relay For Life has raised over $4 billion to fight cancer.

This year’s Westlake’s Relay For Life event will be held July 13-14 at the Westlake Recreation Center.

LEARN MORE

For more information about Lots in One and their fundraiser on June 1, visit their website: www.lotsinone.org. Once there, visitors can also follow links to learn more about, sponsor, or participate in Westlake’s Relay For Life event.