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Cottonwood Heights Journal

Brighton Bengals Raise Funds for Cancer Patients and Families

Jan 28, 2016 03:35PM ● By Bryan Scott


By Stephanie Lauritzen | [email protected]

Cottonwood-Holladay - For their annual fundraiser, the Brighton High School student body officers wanted to find a cause the entire school could rally around in support.  By partnering with Millie’s Princess Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping families with children battling cancer, the Brighton Bengals raised funds for three separate families from Nov. 2 to Jan. 19. SBO faculty adviser Courtney Long said the experience has helped to unify the school while teaching students important lessons on the value and power of giving. 

“It’s important for students to have opportunities to come together and find ways to give rather than receive, especially during Christmas and the holidays,” she said.

Long is quick to point out that this year’s fundraising activities were almost entirely student driven. 

“The student body officers, as well as the rest of our great student government team, have really taken on a leadership position in organizing fundraising activities. They’ve learned to work together, and it is wonderful to see the students lead while the faculty and administration steps back and lets them do their thing,” she said. 

Amanda Flamm, the vice president of Millie’s Princess Foundation, who helped form the foundation while her daughter fought leukemia, used the foundation’s Facebook page to praise Brighton High’s fundraising efforts. 

“So often, we hear negative stories about teenagers, but I think that the ones here in Utah are absolutely outstanding,” Flamm wrote.

Brighton High School set a goal to raise $30,000 by Jan. 19, providing $10,000 for the families of Tyce Campbell, Elaina Murphy, and Devin Stuart.  Before the holiday break, students had already raised $20,000, with fundraising activities planned up to the January deadline.  

From faculty vs. student basketball competitions and Tournament Tuesday student game nights, to restaurant nights sponsored by companies such as Straws and Chipotle, students continued to organize fundraising and publicity events to meet their fundraising goals. 

“We are confident we will be able to reach our goals and hopefully help these families through a difficult time. The students here are invested and dedicated to making a difference for each of these families,” Long said.