MollyB Will Get Her Stone at the Capitol Center

CONCORD, NH — Friends who had hoped to raise thousands for a memorial stone outside of the Capitol Center for the Arts for Molly Banzhoff, a Concord teen who passed away earlier this year, have succeeded in their effort after a large donation made by a former cross country runner that her mom coached in the 1990s.

Alyssa Stanley and Haley Emery set up the site in July to raise $5,000 for Banzhoff, 13, who was a fellow dancer at the Concord Dance Academy. Others also joined in the effort by selling “#HeartMollyB” T-shirts and attending a fundraiser at Flipz! last week raised $810 while Molly’s mother, Concord School Board member Barbara Higgins, kept people posted about the effort.

A donation by Liz (Kieronski) Herman of $838 on Sept. 18, a former Concord High School cross country runner that Higgins coached, pushed the site to $5,500 (which also covers the GoFundMe.com fee).

Higgins said Herman’s donation was unexpected and she was blown away by it. On Facebook this afternoon, thanked Alyssa and Haley as well as others who donated money, purchased T-shirts, and attended fundraisers for helping out.

“I am happy and sad and humbled all at the same time,” Higgins wrote. “A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated to this cause. We miss you, Molly.”

The Concord community also donated more than $30,000 earlier this year in a YouCaring.com effort to offset medical expenses for Banzhoff’s care. More than $7,400 dollars was raised from the sale of T-shirts which have been seen all around the world.

Concord NH Patch will post information about when the stone will be installed at the Capitol Center for the Arts.