‘No Spartan Fights Alone:’ Boardman hosts fundraiser for classmate battling cancer
When one of their classmates missed out on the semester for cancer treatment, students attending Boardman Local Schools stepped up to provide him some extra support.
Alex Perry’s story
Alex Perry is a sophomore at Boardman High School; he has four siblings who are also enrolled in Boardman Local Schools.
While he was in middle school, Alex was diagnosed with stage 3 osteosarcoma, which is a cancer that starts in the bones.
During treatment, Alex lost his leg but learned to walk again while in remission.
Then this August, his cancer returned. The 16-year-old has had multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and other procedures to fight tumors throughout his body.
Students and teachers wanted to find a way to demonstrate their support for Alex, so they started by designing T-shirts for everyone to wear.
‘No Spartan Fights Alone’
The Boardman High School student government, emerging leaders and NHS members launched the T-shirt fundraiser campaign.
They sold over 600 “No Spartan Fights Alone” T-shirts and donated thousands of dollars to Alex and his family.
The T-shirts have yellow letters, which is Alex’s favorite color and the color associated with bone cancer awareness.
Two teachers led the way for the fundraiser: Dana Safarek, English teacher and advisor of the Emerging Leaders student organization and Jennifer Basista, who also teaches English and advises the National Honors Society at BHS.
“For National Honor Society, one of our pillars is service, so we do a lot of service in the community,” said Basista. “We’ve been following Alex’s story, and I was so excited to have him in one of my classes. And then when I didn’t, we decided together that we wanted to do something to raise funds. In one week, I collected $1,200.”
Basista explained the community’s support has been overwhelmingly positive. The students have gotten involved; individuals have dropped off donations and local businesses and organizations are getting involved.
“People just want to reach out to help his family, and they want to help Alex,” she said. “At least let him know that he’s not doing this alone. We think about him. And even though he’s not here, he’s been thought of.”
The students wore their “No Spartan Fights Alone” shirts to school Nov. 15.
They talked to the Perry family on a group call wishing Alex well before he headed to the hospital for blood work.
Even more fundraising for Alex
Staff at Stadium Drive Elementary launched an online basket raffle.
The raffle starts today and runs until Dec. 10. Check out what’s in the raffle baskets here.
Boardman graduate Bill James is the new owner of Chick Fil-A in Boardman.
James joined the effort to support the Perry family.
During the Chick Fil-A Community Care Day on Nov. 15, 10 percent of the proceeds will go to the Perry family.
Customers have to use the Chick-fil-A App for the fundraiser. Order at the Boardman restaurant, located at 480 Boardman-Canfield Road.
A spare change fundraiser was organized by another BHS teacher.
John Pallini and his classes emptied Spartan staff and student piggy banks.
Within days, they collected 60 pounds of spare change. After it was counted, they raised more than $600.
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