One of the most successful student fundraising efforts in the U.S. has moved up a considerable notch with a pledge that will further the fight against cancer. Since 1975, students in the Putnam City School System have raised nearly $1.5 million for cancer research — a dollar, five dollars and ten dollars at a time by jumping rope and carnival games — at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City.
Today, at OMRF’s $100 million fundraising campaign kickoff luncheon at Gaillardia Country Club, students pledged an additional $1 million over the next five years to establish the Putnam City Schools chair in Cancer Research at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, said Vernon E. Cook, OMRF associate vice president of development and the Foundation’s liaison with the students, teachers, and administrators involved in the Putnam City Cancer Drive.
“This is an extraordinary day,” said Cook. “OMRF could not be more pleased than to have this very tangible and significant expression of support from the Putnam City Schools, particularly in light of the funds they have raised over the past 21 years. It is a strong testament to the commitment of all the individuals that make up the Putnam City Cancer Drive.”
The Cancer Drive began in 1975 under the direction of Lois Thomas, a PC journalism teacher, when superintendent Leo Mayfield and several teachers within the system were diagnosed with or died from cancer. Thomas was insistent that any funds raised be donated to OMRF because it was Oklahoma’s “own” and had a dedicated cancer research group.
The fundraising effort is guided each year by the Cancer Drive Committee. This year’s co-chairwomen are Patricia Hocker, principal at Windsor Hills Elementary, and Linda Black, assistant principal at Hilldale Elementary. School board president is Gail LoPresto and PC Schools superintendent is Dr. Jim Capps. All were present today at the announcement of the endowed chair.
Making the announcement at the luncheon were Putnam City students Kandace Love, Lake Park Elementary School; Michael Horch, Hefner Middle School; and Candace Sperry, Putnam City North High School.
To date, $1, 434, 814 has been raised to support cancer research at OMRF. In 1998-99, the total was $270,260, which allowed the Foundation to purchase a confocal microscope for the Immunobiology and Cancer Research Program. Each school in the system decides what fundraisers it will have during the annual cancer drive, ranging from school carnivals, walk-a-thons and auctions.
