Garden Spot High School's Health Council hosted a Mini Relay For Life on May 24 for schools across the district. Students in grades seven through 12 were invited to walk the track in the morning to raise awareness for people living with cancer. In the afternoon, kids in kindergarten through sixth grade were invited to walk and participate in some fun activities.

Julie Groft, a health teacher at GSHS and the Health Council's adviser, was behind the planning for this event. With the help of the Health Council and the Relay For Life organization, she achieved a district-wide event.

Her team raised funds over the course of a month. During the month of May, the elementary schools brought in coins, and the secondary campus collected coins for two weeks.

Jars were placed in homeroom teachers' classrooms, and the teachers of the classrooms that raised the most money sat above a dunk tank during the event. Students could try to dunk them by hitting a target with a ball. Some teachers had to dye their hair purple or dress in a cow costume.

Groft mentioned that her club also moved a purple toilet and flamingos around New Holland to raise money. People could donate to "flock" someone's house and have purple flamingos or the toilet placed in their front yard.

Lessons were also taught at the elementary schools. Zoe Weir, a senior at GSHS and member of the Health Council, explained, "We had a book for the younger kids. ... It was a really good story to tell them to give them a little info ... if they didn't know what cancer was." Students also made bracelets supporting Relay For Life with the help of the Health Council members. Weir added, "I think the kids really liked it."

Many students attending the event had a person in mind while walking. Maggie Bauer, a senior in the Health Council, said, "My grandma has battled cancer and continues her fight. ... I keep her in mind as we're walking and we're putting in the work into this event today."

It has been two years since the last Mini Relay For Life was held at Garden Spot. Groft listed a few challenges she faced. "We have three new elementary school principals, new superintendent, the middle school principal is new, so they've never done this event before," she said.

A significant number of members of the Health Council had also never participated in this event before. However, Groft called them "phenomenal" and said she appreciated all the hard work put into this event.

When the Mini Relay For Life event came to an end at ELANCO, organizers deemed it a success. Bauer thanked participants, saying, "We appreciate everyone's engagement and enthusiasm, and we are excited to see how much money we raised (to fight) cancer."

William Fithian, a member of Garden Spot High School's Class of 2022, completed an editorial internship with the Pennysaver during the spring 2022 semester. Now that he has turned his tassel, Will plans to attend Suffolk University in Boston in the fall, where he will study broadcast journalism.