Students raise $3,500 for childhood cancer research

Plano ISD school participates in TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation’s Coins for Kids with Cancer program

alvey3301a — Nathan Alvey and Caitlyn Coker, third graders at Miller Elementary, with the Miller Mustang mascot

Two Miller Elementary students inspired their entire school to help kids battling cancer. Nathan Alvey and Caitlyn Coker, third graders at the Plano ISD school in Richardson were touched by the stories of children who must endure countless treatments and procedures in hopes of being cured from cancer.

Nathan, who serves on the school’s Student Council as class representative, and classmate Caitlyn, asked their teachers and advisors if the entire school could support research for childhood cancer through the Coins for Kids with Cancer program, benefiting TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation.

“This was a lot of fun and our friends really liked this project,” said Nathan. “We were surprised that we could raise so much money for research. We hope it helps a lot of other kids.”

alvey3284a — Nathan Alvey, Caitlyn Coker and Miller Elementary teacher Jill Sale

Miller students competed in a friendly competition to see which class in each grade level could raise the most money for childhood cancer. The winning class gets to choose a special activity as an award for their accomplishment. Miller’s entire student body raised more than $3,500 for TeamConnor in only two weeks thanks to these two third graders who took the initiative to help kids they don’t even know.

“I really liked being a part of this program,” said Caitlyn. “We helped the Student Council make posters for the hallways to let the other kids in the school know what we were doing. Nathan and I also made a presentation to the entire school and we started the program with the very first coins. I hope we get to do it again.”

alvey224a — Caitlyn Coker pours coins into a Coins for kids with cancer container to kick off the fundraiser

Every year, more than 12,400 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children, yet the budget of the National Cancer Institute allocates only 3% of its funds to pediatric cancer research.

“We are very proud of our students and their commitment to this community service project,” said Virginia Simms, president of Miller’s PTA. “The kids were very excited to be a part of something that helps kids who are battling a serious disease. Through the Coins for Kids with Cancer program, the students learned it’s important to help others in need.”

The TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness and funding research and treatment programs to find a cure for all childhood cancers.