Cure AT/RT Raffle

Win this Spring basket by donating to the spinathon for Cure AT/RT!
 

 It is filled with seasonal toys such as a butterfly net, baseball bat, frisbee, jump rope, bubbles, watering can, and shovels. The basket will be on display in the Sweetsir Lobby until the raffle on April 26th at 9:00am. 

Raffle for Cure AT/RT

To enter the raffle, make a donation to the "Sweetsir Spinners" team described below.  All proceeds will go directly to Cure AT/RT.  Any size donation is welcome and will qualify you for the raffle!  Donations can be made via the Sweetsir School office (cash or checks made payable to "Cure AT/RT").  If sent via backpack, please use an envelop labeled Cure AT/RT, and include your name for the drawing.  For more information contact Erica Wentworth at ewentworth@prsd.org.

Sweetsir Spinners for Cure AT/RT

Avalanna

As many of you know, at the beginning of this school year Merrimac lost two children to pediatric cancer.  My colleagues and I feel blessed that Emma and Avalanna attended the Sweetsir School.  They were beautiful young girls with amazing personalities.  We have many fond memories of how they, and their families, brought joy to our school community.  For this reason, participating in fundraisers to cure pediatric cancer is a cause near and dear to our hearts.                          

Avalanna's family and friends created a fund to support research and treatment at Dana Farber Cancer Institute to cure AT/RT.  The weekend of April 26th-27th, they will be hosting a second Spinathon and Spa Night fundraiser.  The goal is to have 80 teams, raise $1,000 each, and ride spin bikes for 24 hours at Latitude's in Methuen.  (For more details, visit www.cureatrt.org ).

Last year, a team made up of Sweetsir staff members and parents had a great time at the event and raised $1,675!  (Follow the cure AT/RT label on the right to see pictures).  If you would like to ride with the "Sweetsir Spinners" this year, contact our Team Captain Erica Wentworth at ewentworth@prsd.org.   The Sweetsir Spinners are collecting monetary donations at the Sweetsir School office until April 24th.

Community of Bucketfillers

Spin-a-thon Room with 80 bikes

Thank you to all the FNS families and staff members who helped raise funds for Cure AT/RT.  Our team, the Sweetsir Spinners, surpassed our goal by raising $1,675!  By the end of the spin-a-thon, over $60,000 had been collected.  The total for "Avalanna's Weekend" is expected to be even higher once the proceeds from the Spa Night are tallied in with other proceeds.

For those of us who attended the Spin-a-thon, it was a very emotional and inspiring experience.  Walking into the room, you couldn't help but be awestruck by the number of people who gave their time and effort to support this cause.  It's astonishing that a little 6 year old girl could rally such a large community of people.

Some of the Sweetsir Spinners

Mrs. Erica Wentworth, a kindergarten teacher, went above and beyond as our team captain.  To add spirit she designed these shirts and created a sign for the Sweetsir bike.  This photo shows some of the many staff members who wore the shirts to school on Friday and spent part of the weekend pedaling.

Sweetsir Spinners bike sign

Cake Pops by Terceiro

Mrs. Kathy Terceiro, a third grade teacher, made a bazillion of these fancy cake pops for Cure AT/RT.  You may have seen them being sold around town and outside of West Newbury Food Mart by some Merrimac children. The children also showed up at the club to cheer on the spinners.  They were quite irresistible in their bright yellow shirts (featuring a large 'A'), tutus, and bows.

Sweetir Spinners for CURE AT/RT

Youtube video about AT/RT posted by Dana Farber Cancer Institute 

One of our students, 6 year old Avalanna, is the inspiration behind an upcoming Spin-a-thon to raise funds for CURE AT/RT NOW.  Her family helped set up this charity to fund research and treatment at Dana Farber for AT/RT, a devastating form of pediatric cancer.  Friends have rallied to organize a weekend fundraiser, April 27-29th, at Latitudes and Spa Ni'Joli in Methuen.  Their goal is to raise $80,000 by having 80 teams raise a $1,000 each.

Sweetsir Staff Members have put together a team, called "The Sweetsir Spinners", to participate in the 24 hour spin-a-thon, which begins at noon on Friday. We would love to have parents and other community members join us!  To help sponsor our bike, donation can be sent in this week to the Sweetsir School office (cash or checks made payable to Cure AT/RT). We are also looking for adults and older teens to spend time riding the stationary bike. To find out which shifts still need to be filled, contact our team captain Mrs. Erica Wentworth at email: ewentworth@prsd.org.  This is a wonderful way to show beautiful Avalanna our support!

Spinning for a Sweetheart

Have you heard of the little girl affectionately being referred to as "Mrs. Beiber"?  You may have seen her on the news around Valentine's Day.  This little sweetheart made national headlines when Justin Beiber flew her to New York to play Candyland.  The trip was a media sensation and the world fell in love with her.  Those of us who know her as Avalanna, a Sweetsir kindergartner, were not surprised.  She has that effect on people- her infectious laugh and beautiful personality fills others with joy.

The trip to NY was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the need to raise money to cure AT/RT.  This form of pediatric cancer is so rare that there is no cure and virtually no funding for research.  April 27th-29th, Avalanna's family and friends are putting together a 24 hour Spin-a-thon and a Spa Night to benefit 'Cure AT/RT Now', which they formed to support research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  The Sweetsir School is pleased to announce we are putting together a team to participate in this fundraiser.  Details will be sent home via backpack to explain how you can  form your own team or sponsor the 'Sweetsir Spinners'.   Monetary donations and checks made out to 'Cure AT/RT Now' will be collected at the Sweetsir School Office until April 27th.  Let's join together to prevent other children from experiencing this devastating illness.