Silver Lake Regional High Raises $35,000 for Breast Cancer Center

For Immediate Release: December 5, 2017

Contact: Kristen L. Perfetuo, (781) 624- 4041 kperfetuo@southshorehealth.org

Silver Lake Regional High School Raises $9,875 in a Single Month for Breast Cancer Awareness

Students, faculty and staff to present the check to Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Institute at South Shore Health System

Kingston, MA - The fight against breast cancer is very real for students, faculty and staff at Silver Lake Regional High School in Kingston. In just a few short years, five members of the school’s faculty have survived a breast cancer diagnosis, and several of the students have experienced family members battling the disease.

But in the face of adversity lies opportunity. Since 2012, the twelve hundred students at Silver Lake have joined together with faculty and administration – seizing opportunity – and raising more than $35,000 for breast cancer awareness. This past October alone – in honor of breast cancer awareness month - the school raised $9,875. On Monday, December 4, at Silver Lake Regional High School, the students and staff presented their check to the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in clinical affiliation with South Shore Hospital.

“It’s a way for us to show our community that we care,” said Emma Wick, a senior at the school. “A lot of the fundraising we do is fun and it’s good to see how we all come together to support patients and their families living with breast cancer.”

For Emma and her brother, Dalton Wick, fundraising for breast cancer awareness is a personal mission. Their mother is currently receiving treatment at the Cancer Center, located in South Weymouth, which offers cutting-edge therapies and support for cancer patients.

“On ‘pink day’ at the school it was amazing to see so many kids dressed in pink showing their support” said Dalton, a freshman.

“The kids live with this disease, too,” said Marlene Lopes, a breast cancer survivor and faculty member who helped spearhead the school’s fundraising efforts. “They have mothers, aunts, sisters and grandmothers that battle or have battled breast cancer. By doing what we do, we are showing the kids there is hope. Teaching and showing compassion is far more important than any lesson learned in the classroom.”

The idea for fundraising began in 2012 after Lopes was diagnosed with breast cancer. When she returned to work after treatment, she teamed up with four faculty members also diagnosed with the disease. Known as the “5 Pink Ladies” the group made it their mission to promote breast cancer awareness in the school. According to Lopes, giving the money to the Cancer Center was a no-brainer.

“I received my treatment there and I know first-hand how my caregivers helped me,” said Lopes. “Silver Lake is family. By supporting South Shore Health System, we are literally helping our students' families get the care they need - so close to home.”

Throughout the years, students and staff have hosted a range of fundraising activities including Penny Drives, a “Pie a Teacher” day, selling pink daisies, lanyards, and other apparel, participating in staff kickball and alumni field hockey games, as well as offering face painting and selling other concessions.

“I’ve watched this fundraising initiative grow,” said Michaela Gill, Principal. “It started off as a week-long campaign and now it’s a month-long campaign. Everyone always asks ‘how can I help?’ ‘How can we do more?’ It’s a celebration of life, love and support for those we know impacted by the disease.”

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Kristen Perfetuo, News & Information Officer at South Shore Health System; kperfetuo@southshorehealth.org; work: (781)624-4041; mobile: (617)320-8566.

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South Shore Health System is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, charitable health system that provides acute care, ambulatory care, and home health services to the 700,000 residents of Southeastern Massachusetts.

It is the parent organization of South Shore Hospital, South Shore Medical Center, South Shore Visiting Nurse Association, Hospice of the South Shore, South Shore NeuroSpine, and other not-for-profit health organizations.

The South Shore Health System Foundation is the philanthropic arm of South Shore Heath System. It supports the mission by engaging patients and their families, colleagues and community members in a variety of fundraising and volunteer opportunities. To learn more about giving and special events please visit southshorehealth.org/ways-to-give.