Keith Valley Students Up (All Night) to the Challenge

Hundreds of Keith Valley Middle School eighth graders played more than 15 hours of hockey in the largest Make-A-Wish Foundation student fundraiser in the country. The 39th annual Keith Valley Challenge, an all-night floor hockey marathon, started Friday afternoon February 6 and ended early the next morning. These determined eighth graders were able to raise a little over $54,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“The Challenge is a great tradition here,” Keith Valley Middle School Eighth Grade Assistant Principal John Ewerth said. “Our students work hard and play hard to raise funds to help make the dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses come true. I am very proud of them.”

All the teams participating in the Challenge filled the gym with their colorful posters and self-designed team uniforms. “I loved being able to create our own design for the marathon, it helped everyone become involved,” said eighth grader Kara Kaminski.

As the first of the games came to an end, Pink Team Captain Mia Andrews exclaimed “Honestly I’m so happy to be playing in general. It was so fun raising money and being able to play the first game just got me ready to play all night!”

Students were required to raise a minimum of $75 to participate and all proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. To date, the Keith Valley Challenge has raised just under $890,000, which has been used to support various charities over the years.

The Keith Valley Challenge began in 1977 in memory of an eighth grade student who died of a heart defect. Following his death, administrators, faculty, staff and students sponsored a floor hockey marathon and pledged to raise money for charity. Since then, the event has taken on a life of its own. The Make-A-Wish Foundation has been the recipient of the challenge for several years.

The Challenge has supported the wishes of children residing in the Greater Philadelphia area, including the Hatboro-Horsham community. It is never too late to donate, please visit the link to donate: http://tinyurl.com/pkl89hz

Keith Valley Middle School is located at 227 Meetinghouse Road, Horsham.