Community Corner

Eighth-Graders Continue Fundraising For Childhood Cancer This Week

Events at Husk, Rootz to benefit effort.

On Monday, May 16, two eight-graders at Canton Middle School will continue an effort to raise funds for the oncology department at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

Beginning at 5 p.m., 10 percent of profits and 100 percent of tips at Husk: New American Tacos will go to the effort.

Sydney Abate and Ashlyn Kerr are conducting several fundraisers as part of their Odyssey Project at Canton Middle. The project is part of eight-grade English and Social Studies and gives students a chance to work on a service project, personal growth effort or career exploration.

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Abate and Kerr chose to raise funds to fight childhood cancer in honor of Blake Roy, a 7-year-old Torrington boy battling the disease.

Abate said she grew up with the family.

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“We chose to raise money for cancer,”  she said. “Seeing their family go through that was sad.”

“I heard about Blake and I wanted to help,” Kerr added.

On May 19, Rootz Salon in Collinsville will host a Wigs for Kids fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Anyone with hair of 10 inches or more can donate it for use in wigs. Stylists will donate their time and the girls are asking for a minimum donation of $5 for their fundraising. 

Some kids are also planning to shave their heads to raise awareness as well, the girls said. 

Abate said the girls hope to raise at least $500 for the effort. The project wraps up Friday and includes some other efforts as well, such as a presentation, a reflection letter and some other aspects, including a thank-you letter.

Abate plans to write to Realty Works owner Julius Fialkiewicz, who allowed the girls to recently set up a Tastefully Simple fundraiser outside the office. 


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