By Lora Scripps
The Leeds News
LEEDS/MOODY — The Moody Elementary School “Penny Warriors” are some of Leeds/Moody Relay for Life’s youngest supporters. For the past three years, kindergarteners through third graders have filled their tiny hands with pennies and opened their hearts to the American Cancer Society through a project called Penny Wars.
Moody Elementary sponsor and second grade teacher Michele Parker said the group has raised over $3,000 at the school in the past two years.
“A few years ago I had two students in my classroom with parents who had lost their battle with cancer and they wanted to do something about it,” Parker said. “That is how it all got started.”
She admitted the disease has affected her students, even at such a young age. “Some of the children have had cancer and others have lost parents and grandparents,” she said. “They know all about it.”
In the past, some of the children who have lost parents or have had cancer themselves have took the time to explain it to their fellow classmates and push their peers to raise money through Penny Wars.
Penny Wars takes place the month of April and is a competition between each grade at MES. Students are encouraged to bring their loose change to school. Pennies cost positive points toward the classroom’s total. Paper money, such as dollars, is also positive and counts 100 points. However, students can sabotage other classrooms by placing silver into their collection. Nickels are negative five points, dimes are negative 10 points, quarters are negative 25 points and a half dollar makes an even bigger difference.
“Everyone is always excited and on fire to see who is winning and how much money they will collect,” Parker said. The classroom that raises the most money is treated to a pizza party. Pennies do add up and MES is averaging over $1,500 a year for Relay for Life.
Parker’s class counts each classroom’s pennies on Friday as part of their math lesson.
“It takes a long time to count all of those pennies,” she said. “But, they enjoy doing it.”
“I think the students get so excited about the project because they all know what cancer is,” she said. “When the kids go around and tell each other their stories it really makes a difference. Everyone participates. Everyone can find pennies on the ground.”
Parker said she believes the children are realizing that there are issues that affect everyone beyond the school’s walls.
“They get to see that every little bit helps,” she said. “They see that they can make a difference. It doesn’t matter how big you are or how much you give. If everyone gives a few pennies it adds up to $1,500 before you know it.”
She added it’s a good lesson when they get to see and realize where their efforts really are going.
The “Penny Warriors” are also selling t-shirts this year that read “Curing cancer one penny at a time” that they will wear on Relay night, May 7, at Moody High School.
Parker is hoping all the students who participate at
school will also participate on Relay night. She serves on the Relay Committee and is in charge of children’s activities. She said moonwalks, cotton candy and a variety of events will be available for children of all ages, adding students might also get a chance to dunk her in the dunking booth.
“Relay for Life has got better and better every year,” she said. “I hope this one will be the best one yet. When we all put our little bits together, it makes a big difference.”
