Posted 5/16/01
Rush City students hold fundraiser for leukemia
By Danielle Strenke
A few weeks ago, students in Mr. Laaksoís class at Jacobson Elementary in Rush City learned how to make paper carnations, using boxed tissue.
When fourth grader Celine Bossart saw these flowers, she thought it would be neat to try and make them. She did, and so did the rest of the class. That night, she went home and came up with the idea of the class making the flowers and selling them at school.
So she came up with donating the money to a childrenís leukemia society. Celine said she had read some books about children with the form of cancer. ìItís the only cancer I have heard about,î Celine said. ìItís sad that children die from it.î
So the week before Motherís Day, the class was busy constructing the flowers under the name they established for their organizationñ the Flowers for Leukemia Association. The students spent numerous hours making the flowers, many of it on their own after school or at home.
They are an organized group, said teacher Marty Laakso. ìThey hold meetings, and elected officersñ theyíre very serious about this,î he said.
The results of the sale were overwhelming. At 25 cents each, or eight in a custom-made pop bottle vase for $2, the students sold out their flowers every day of the week. In the end, the kids sold more than 800 flowers and raised $200 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Minnesota.
Celine said all of the kids have enjoyed making the flowers, and knowing they are making a difference.