By Josh Beavers
Minden and the surrounding communities will likely bring in another million dollars over the next few days. The money goes to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the local St. Jude Auction has become an iconic event in Webster Parish and beyond.
Local schools get in on the action as well. The exact number eludes this report; however, it would not be too hard to imagine our schools have combined to bring in more than a million dollars on their own over the last few years.
One such school is located down Sibley way. On the side of Hwy 371 lies Lakeside, a little school that has brought in $111,520 for St. Jude over the course of the last seven years.
“We do not have any large donors,” assistant principal Ashley Hooter said. “Our teachers and students work throughout the year selling food items, hosting events such as teachers versus students volleyball, powderpuff football, and students participating in dress days throughout the year.”
Here are the numbers:
2016: $10,500
2017: $14, 200
2018: $16,590
2019: $19,233.08
2020: $15,017.59
2021: $15, 200
2022: 20,789
Total: $111,520
There have been two Lakeside students who have received treatment at St. Jude in recent years. Conner Bell and Jake Chumley both were diagnosed with variants of the deadly disease. Both received life-saving treatment and are now living symbols of the importance of continuing to raise funds for St. Jude.
The Lakeside students and surrounding community understand that importance.
“Our students are aware that St. Jude is leading the way in treating and defeating childhood cancer,” Hooter said. “It is personal to the faculty/staff and students at Lakeside because we have had members of the Warrior family that have been directly affected by cancer resulting in treatment at St. Jude.”
Prior to the Covid pandemic, there was a school trip to Memphis every May for those Lakeside students who are instrumental in helping with the annual fundraising. That’s right. It’s not solely a teacher endeavor to make the Auction such a success at Lakeside. After all, it takes dedicated students to break records.
Hooter said the trips are about making personal connections and let the students see first-hand how important what they do is to young children and their families.
“Our students hosted a BINGO night at the Ronald McDonald House for patients and their families,” she said. “This was such a gratifying experience. Our students had the opportunity to put smiles on the faces of several kids and their parents for a couple hours. Some of the kids asked students to go outside and draw with them on the sidewalk with sidewalk chalk. Those students will never forget that.”
As part of a tour of the hospital, Hooter said, “I think the favorite part for all of us was the hallway where the No More Chemo parties take place. It was surreal to see the leftover pieces of confetti on the hallway floor. It was such an incredible opportunity to visibly see what the money we spend months raising does for the patients/families at St. Jude.”
Hooter said every faculty member helps, but there is a core group that leads the way.
“Mrs. Lee, Mrs. Gregg, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Greene, and Mrs. Wynn have been working tirelessly to raise money as well as plan events,” she said. “We could not give what we give nor do all that we do without the entire faculty, but these particular teachers go above and beyond in helping fundraise.”
One thing is certain, Minden will continue to break fundraising efforts for St. Jude. And Lakeside will be right there every step of the way.