ADAMS TWP — An inspirational student and his guide dog who attend classes at Centennial School have led two Mars School District principals to help raise funds for others facing the same challenges.

The student is Max Lamm, a blind sixth-grader at the Centennial school who comes to classes every day with his guide dog, Seal. Max received the dog through the group MIRA Foundation U.S.A. in July 2012 after he participated in a required and rigorous monthlong stay at the MIRA training facility outside of Montreal.

Seal is a St. Pierre guide dog, which is a cross between the highly intelligent Burmese Mountain Dog and the hardy Labrador Retriever.

The fundraising events were held at Centennial School and Mars Middle School to raise money for MIRA, which provides guide dogs to visually impaired youths from 11 to 17 years old.

The fundraiser was put on by fifth- through eighth-grade students in the two schools who brought in donations for MIRA in exchange for the privilege of wearing their favorite sports jerseys to school on Friday.

Centennial Principal Todd Lape said wearing sports jerseys was chosen as the students' reward for donating because they are Max's favorite clothing to wear.

Because all MIRA dogs are provided free of cost to their young handlers, dog recipients are encouraged to raise money to cover the $60,000 cost of a dog for the others who will get a dog in the future.

“So we thought we'll raise a couple thousand to help someone else get a dog, because we've seen the huge benefits here,” Lape said.

Because Max's sister attends the middle school, Principal Rich Cornell gladly agreed to hold the MIRA fundraiser in his building as well.

“MIRA is a wonderful program that helps (visually impaired) students who are attending any school,” Cornell said. “The dogs help the student who has the animal, provides them with mobility and confidence, and makes them independent.”

The total raised on Friday was not yet available, as the principals are allowing students to bring in donations during the next few school days to accommodate families who may have forgotten about the event during the recent weather-related delays and cancellations.

Lape said having Seal in his school building has been nothing but positive all the way around. He was thrilled to help MIRA after seeing the level of independence Max was able to achieve with Seal's help. Lape also said the experience has been a good one for the entire student body, who have embraced Max and Seal and respect the dog's hard work at the school.

“The students don't really even notice the dog anymore,” Lape said. “And as for Max, he's just one of the kids.”

Lape attended a MIRA fundraiser held last year at the Oakmont Country Club that was organized by Max's parents, Eric and Lisa Lamm. Called “Dining in the Dark,” those in attendance ate their entire dinner blindfolded to replicate the mealtime experience of the visually impaired.

“It was fantastic,” Lape said. “You think you're getting a bite of chicken and you get an onion. It was amazing. I was privileged to attend.”

Eric Lamm said the event raised $180,000, enough for three dogs, via the generosity of the vendors and companies he works with through his company, Creative Real Estate Development.

Marijenet Doonan, president and chief executive officer at MIRA U.S.A., which is based in North Carolina, said 16 dogs have trained and gone home with their young owners in the last four years.

She appreciates the efforts of the Mars School District in helping raise funds, as well as awareness among students.

“I think it's a great thing,” Doonan said. “It helps the children understand about guide dogs and also that they're very expensive.”

She also praised Max's advocacy of the organization that brought Seal to him.

“Max is a very avid spokesman for MIRA,” Doonan said.

Max was blinded as a result of treatment for stage-five cancer at 9 months old.

Those who want to learn more about MIRA or make a donation can log onto www.mirausa.com.