Even more SV students walk to raise funds for research
This week students at Evans City Elementary and Middle School celebrated 10 years of raising money and awareness for cancer research with the annual STOMP Out Cancer walk.
For this first time in the event's history, Seneca Valley's other elementary and middle schools — Haine Elementary and Middle schools and Connoquenessing Valley and Rowan elementary schools — joined in with their own walks. Each school had a dedicated walk day last week.
Students and staff took turns walking around the building throughout the day and asked family, friends and local businesses to sponsor their efforts.
“We're hoping we can make a difference to stomp out cancer so families don't have to deal with it anymore,” said Lorraine Scarpino, event organizer.
The STOMP walk, which stands for Saulle's Teddy bear Official Memorial Parade, began in 2008 in memory of Evans City Elementary kindergarten teacher Linda Saulle, Scarpino said.
Saulle taught at Evans City for 17 years before dying in 2007 of colon cancer. Scarpino, a retired Evans City Elementary first-grade teacher, said she wanted to do something lasting and impactful that would remind people of Saulle's spirit for years to come and help others too.
They came up with the idea to host a walk to raise money for cancer research. Each year, Saulle had held a teddy bear picnic with her students, so students were encouraged to bring their teddy bears along for the walk.
In the 10 years of the STOMP, Evans City school has raised more than $140,000 for the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute in Saulle's name. Last year Evans City raised a little more than $18,000.
“I think Linda would be amazed that our little community, little Evans City Elementary School and Middle School have done such a remarkable thing,” Scarpino said. “I think she would be proud and humbled by their generosity.”
The first year the walk focused on memorializing Linda Saulle, but after that is was opened up to anyone who had been affected by cancer. Scarpino retired in 2011 but continues to organize the walk each year.
“It raises a lot of awareness,” said Justine Wallace, a parent volunteer for the walk at Rowan Elementary on Thursday. “Unfortunately cancer has probably affected all of their lives in one way or another.”
Wallace and fellow volunteer Tara Olkowski said the students at Rowan were excited and vocal as they marched around the baseball field behind the school throughout the afternoon.
Second grader Olivia Cochran said her grandfather has cancer and thought it was good to raise money for people who are sick so they can get better.
“I think it's a good thing to do,” she said.
New this year is a free community concert planned for 5 p.m. May 31 at the Zelienople Community Park to wrap up the event. The public is invited to help celebrate 10 years of successful giving with the students and families who participated in the walk.
Seneca Valley student performance groups and the Skipper Johnson Band will perform.
“It should be really nice,” Scarpino said. “It's just a celebration of all six schools coming together and doing this. It's our way of thanking the community for their support.”
To donate to the STOMP Out Cancer walk, visit http://secure.giveto.pitt.edu/stomp.
