From March 1, 2017 until March 22, 2017, Bel Air High School will be participating in Pennies for Patients.

Pennies for Patients is a way that schools from all over can donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The whole idea is that even just a penny can make a difference to help fight disease.

The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

Mrs. McDonough, teacher at Bel Air High School, says, “If everyone in our building donated just $1.00 we would be able to send in almost $1,800.00. That is including all students and staff. This is such a worthy cause and all of the money that is collected goes directly towards research. As a school we do not accept any of their prizes because HOPE Club decided a few years ago that we wanted the all the money to go towards the research of blood cancer not back to us.”

Every school that does this program must commit to collecting donations for 15 consecutive school days. Weekends do not count.

“We have had several of our students go through this illness over the last few years and it is devastating to them. We actually lost one of our BAHS Alumni right after he graduated to leukemia, so this fundraiser really touches home. As a school it would be great to support our students who are currently undergoing or just finished treatment,” McDonough states.

Students, any donation at all can make a difference, so gather your spare change you have lying around in your car, wallet, or just about anywhere else, and turn it in to make a difference in someone’s life.

For more information, visit this website: http://greatnonprofits.org/org/the-leukemia-lymphoma-society?gclid=CJbehfT3wdICFdRMDQodxtkO5Q