Posted 10:16 pm Friday, November 13, 2009
T.K. Gorman Students Play Powder Puff Football For Cystic Fibrosis
By MEGAN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
The Bishop T.K. Gorman Catholic School community says it's "saving Grace" with the more than $1,200 the school's National Honor Society raised for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of a student with the disease.
The money was raised in honor of Grace Knight, a sixth-grader who was diagnosed with the disease when she was about a year and a half old.
Britt Stafford, president of the NHS, said students wanted to do everything they could to help and be supportive.
"It's important for every member of our Gorman family to help," she said.
The group coordinated the homecoming "powder puff" football game, asking for a $5 fee to watch the game and for other donations.
"A lot of people were very generous and left a lot of donations," Miss Stafford said.
From that effort, $1,200 was raised.
"It was fantastic. It was a lot more than I expected," Miss Stafford said. "I was really proud of the Gorman community that we could come up with that money."
"It was fantastic. It was a lot more than I expected," Miss Stafford said. "I was really proud of the Gorman community that we could come up with that money."
The Gorman Booster Club donated $50.
Miss Stafford, a senior, said she had not known much about the disease, and this fundraising raised awareness.
Miss Stafford, a senior, said she had not known much about the disease, and this fundraising raised awareness.
"I had no idea how much it does affect a person's life," Miss Stafford said, noting that people have learned more about cystic fibrosis through Grace.
According to information from the foundation, cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system.
Grace's daily life is affected because of the disease, her mother said, including that she must take a pill each time she eats to help her absorb fat from food, must do 30-minute breathing treatments every morning and night to unclog her lungs, is on long-term antibiotics and has other daily treatments.
She has had five sinus surgeries, her mother said.
"It's a continuous effort on trying to stay well," her mother, Lori Knight, said.
Grace said she was surprised they did this for her.
Mrs. Knight said at least 100 Gorman parents and students attended the cystic fibrosis walk in September. Then, with the high school raising this money for the foundation, she said, "It really brings me to tears."
"I was overwhelmed when they called and said they wanted to do the powder puff for CF," she said.
Mercedes Chase, associate executive director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Tyler, said that she was excited about the students raising this money.
"I love it when students get involved," Ms. Chase said. "It's so exciting to see young people in our community have a heart for something so important that doesn't affect that many people -- only 30,000 people in the U.S."
She said the money will go toward funding research and drug treatments.
Grace's mom said they've had a lot of "ups and downs" and she's thankful for the research and drug treatments.
"It's made a big difference," she said.
Cathy Carney, adviser to the NHS, said Grace is "such an ambassador for the cause."
Cathy Carney, adviser to the NHS, said Grace is "such an ambassador for the cause."
"She has risen to the occasion all the way," Ms. Carney said.
Principal Jim Franz said students deserve credit for helping.
"The fact that these older high school students took it upon themselves to help the CF cause speaks well to their care and compassion for others," Franz said. "Causes sometimes seem distant and detached from our own lives, but when they are grounded in individuals in our own lives who are in one way or another affected by the cause, suddenly they seem more real and pertinent."
