Students raise funds for patients

KEARNEY, Neb. — The efforts of a few teenagers will benefit cancer sufferers in need.

Kearney High School seniors Katlyn Bailey, Meghan Tinkham, Lauren Andrews and Holly Andreason raised $17,200 with their Tackle Cancer pink T-shirt drive.

“It's awesome how we can all come together and raise money for such an amazing cause,” Bailey said. “Cancer affects everyone in some way.”

In October, the Kearney Rowdies discussed wearing pink for their student cheering section during a football game.

The Rowdies usually select a theme, and then students wear costumes to games reflecting the theme.

Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bailey said, the pink-out idea sounded like a good way to raise money and awareness. DMilaco Sports Fashion sold the shirts to the organizers at cost and donated the screen-printing.

The girls then began selling their T-shirts.

The fundraiser's initial goal was to raise $10,000, but in a little over a month they had surpassed their goal, Andrews said. The goal was then increased to $15,000.

In the end, the group sold 2,300 pink T-shirts and received donations from local businesses.

Money from the Tackle Cancer drive was given to the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation recently. The foundation will distribute the funds among cancer patients in need.

“It's so awesome that teenage girls can come up with this,” cancer patient Joanna Hinrichs said. “I'm just in awe. It's amazing.”

Hinrichs, 48, met with the students Thursday before they presented a check to hospital administrators.

Hinrichs said she was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer five years ago and underwent chemotherapy. After receiving treatments the cancer was gone.

But, two years ago her cancer returned. It has spread, and she's receiving treatments, but Hinrichs says her cancer is terminal.

“You just take it a day at a time,” she said.

“You rock,” Andrews told her.

Hinrichs said she had a choice to enjoy life and have fun or be sad. “You're attitude is so much,” she said.

Bailey's eyes welled with tears, listening to her story.

Hinrichs brushed off her display of emotion and said, “Oh, we're all going to the same place.”

“It was an amazing experience, and I'll probably never forget it,” Tinkham said.

Anna Fryda, internal communications coordinator at Good Samaritan Hospital, said the money will help patients pay their utility bills, pay for daily living expenses or pay for fuel or other items they can't afford while they're receiving treatment.

“It helps alleviate the stress so they can better focus on recovery,” she said.

“From working at the Cancer Center and seeing patients that come in you see how cancer has affected patients. They have stress. If we can somehow alleviate that stress, even if it's by giving them a gas card so they can make it to their treatment, we want to do that,” oncology nurse Dana Welsh said. “We're overwhelmed by the support.”

“I'm kind of sad it's over,” Bailey said.

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