BH Students, Families Raise Money to Fight Cancer

Looking for some local family fun this weekend? Help out a good cause by bringing family and friends to Saturday’s Relay for Life, a 24-hour walkathon sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS) to increase cancer awareness and help fight the disease.

Beverly Hills Unified School District students and staff members are gathering under the name “Beverly Hills Kids—Team Sienna,” after second-grade Beverly Vista student Sienna Wolfe, who is fighting a rare form of cancer called fibromyxoid sarcoma.

“The honorary first lap will be walked by Sienna and others who have shown strength dealing with this awful, life-changing disease,” said Michele Kalt, Sienna’s mother.

She described the relay as a “24-hour cancer party” designed to bring attention to the disease in a fun way.

All five city schools are supporting the Beverly Hills relay, which will be held on the grounds of . The activities begin at 8:30 a.m. with a survivor breakfast. 

The general activities start at 10:00 a.m. with a “kids zone,” including an obstacle course, games, dancing and evening s’mores. A wrist band for kids activities costs $25, with all profits going to the ACS.

There will also be a raffle drawing at 3:30 p.m. with a variety of prizes, like a week in Palm Springs.

Live music will be provided throughout the day, including an 8 p.m. concert by The Tokens, a band that includes Board of Education member .

attracted 1,400 walkers and raised $100,000 for the ACS. Organizers hope to break that record this year. Individual walkers are raising money through sponsors. On-site donations are welcome.

Several district teachers and administrators are supporting the relay. Horace Mann Principal Steve Kessler and Assistant Principal Dana Findley are each volunteering themselves to "be walked" by students in exchange for a $15 donation.

First-grade Horace Mann teacher Christy Fuhrer and her husband, Hawthorne Assistant Principal Christian Fuhrer, will also be walking in support of Team Sienna. Christy Fuhrer is a breast cancer survivor who lost her mother to cancer last year.

Starbucks will offer free coffee for the entire 24-hour event. Mammoth Water is supplying water for lemonade that will be sold by students.

For more information or to make a donation to Team Sienna, click here. 

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