Elm Staff Writer
With Washington College’s annual Relay for Life right around the corner, students and faculty are making ample preparations for the occasion.
One of the many fundraising ideas to be introduced is the Penny War. Located at the top of the steps in the Hodson Hall Commons, the Penny War stand gives students and onlookers a chance to glance at the numerous pennies, donate any spare pennies that they might have, and check up on progress as to how their class stands among the others.
Like many other fundraisers, the Penny War “started as an idea which was then collaborated on by the entire fundraising committee,” said freshman Sean Granata, Head of the Fundraising Committee for Relay for Life.
Each class at WC has a jar located in Hodson Hall. Every penny is a point, but every coin that is not a penny results in negative points. The jar with the most pennies at the end during the count wins.
The Penny War is, without question, a great way to get students involved in the fundraising process since it is such an integral part of the Relay. Past ideas for fundraising include “dunk tanks, bake sales, T-shirt sales, and raffles,” said junior and Chairman of Relay for Life, Dean Marro. “They’re a great way to fight back.”
The committee is hopeful for the future as the funds from the Penny War will be “collected and counted at the end of this week,” as well as “at the end of every month,” said freshman Sean Granata.
Although many are taking steps to fundraise for a good cause, some still may be confused as to what Relay for Life really is. According Marro, “Relay for Life is a celebration for those who have beat cancer and a remembrance for those who have lost their lives,” said Marro.“So many people participate in Relay because cancer does not discriminate, in that it has affected everyone’s life in one way or another.”
At WC Relay, there is also “food, games, and activities to provide entertainment and build camaraderie.” The Relay is a way for people of a community to come together and fight against a singular cause.
“We come together for one goal, and that is to beat cancer,” said Marro.
As of Feb. 24, there are almost 60 teams made up of about 450 students, faculty, and Chestertown citizens expecting to grace the Johnson Fitness Center at 6 p.m. on April 20 and walk for the entire night. “By having multiple teams, the overall efforts to raise money has increased. Yet, it is dependent on individual team effort, commitment, and excitement to raise for such a great cause,” said Granata.
With various decorations and posters encouraging students and faculty to donate what they can towards a great cause, the Penny War is a great fundraiser which has stemmed from mere idea to a reality: a reality in which people who have not come in contact with cancer, and those currently fighting it, can come together and save lives.