First grade students raise money in honor of classmate First grade students raise money in honor of classmate (January 20, 2006)

Go Green money will go toward cancer research
by Rebecca Guyon

Recycling on school campuses is the norm here in Pleasanton thanks to the Go Green Initiative, but Teresa Huk's first grade class at Vintage Hills Elementary School has put a new spin on the recycling program in an effort to raise funds in honor of classmate Paige Taylor who passed away last October.

"We are trying to make a donation to cancer research in Paige's honor because we thought it was a nice thing to do, and a worthy cause," Huk said. "The little girl meant a lot to the kids and it's a nice way to show how much she meant." Paige died Oct. 20 after a relapse of Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of muscle cancer with which she was first diagnosed when she was 5 years old. Fewer than 50 people a year are diagnosed with the disease.

In October, Vintage Hills kicked off its Go Green recycling fundraiser, where every class in the school collects cans and bottles to be recycled and the funds generated from the recycling go toward the class. Having just lost its classmate, the class decided that instead of using the funds for the classroom, it would donate them to Dr. Fredrick Barr at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine, one of the few doctors in the country conducting research on Paige's disease.

"Dr. Barr is really the only one doing anything on Rhabdomyosarcoma," said Rosemary Taylor, Paige's mother. "When we found out that Mrs. Huk's class decided to take their Go Green funds to donate in her honor, it just meant so much to us."

The students collect cans and bottles every day during recess and lunch and then parent-volunteer Yvette Helmers takes them to the recycling center to be redeemed. Some students have also brought in bottles and cans from home to contribute. Although the rest of the school is ending its Go Green fundraiser Jan. 31, Huk's class is keeping it going until the end of the school year in hopes of making a sizable donation. So far, the students have raised $200. Vintage Hills also organized a blood drive and a toy drive for the whole school in Paige's name on Dec. 20.

Although Paige was only in first grade for a few days before being moved to Hospice care, she had a large impact on the school and her class in particular.

"I just remember a little girl who loved learning and school was the most important thing to her," Huk said. "She wanted to be here every day." Making it to first grade was quite an accomplishment for Paige. In August, she had a relapse and the doctors said she had six to eight weeks to live.

"She lasted eight weeks to the day," Taylor said. Paige loved school, and even though they knew she didn't have much longer, her parents wanted to fulfill her wish to attend first grade. Knowing she wouldn't make it through the year, the school brought in counselors to speak with the children to prepare them for her death and again after she passed away. Although the students seem to be coping, Huk said she wasn't sure if they fully understood what happened.

"Even now they talk about her as if she's still here," she said. "They are always referring to her like saying, 'That's Paige's seat.'"

It was especially difficult for students who had also been in Paige's kindergarten class. Huk said many of them have dealt with the loss with their families. Through the recycling fundraiser, Huk and her students hope to commemorate Paige and keep her memory alive.

"The school has been absolutely phenomenal," Taylor said. "And the parents should be so proud of themselves because Paige was never teased."

Make a donation

Those who would like to contribute cans and bottles or make a donation to the recycling fundraiser in honor of Paige Taylor may contact Teresa Huk at Vintage Hills Elementary School at 426-4240 or e-mail her at thuk@pleasanton.k12.ca.us.

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